TURTLES!! TURTLES!!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Virginia

Last week i looked out the window to see this turtle hanging out on the edge of one of the deck steps in our back yard…

TURLE TURTLEAfter dashing out to snap a few pics, i could not figure out how this turtle made it onto this step since there’s a good 6 inches both ways (up & down.)

TURTLE on step…but, somehow, voila! – this turtle landed there…

It reminded me of something my Papa has said, “Anytime you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know two things about that turtle: 1) somebody had to put him there, because (2) turtles can’t climb a fencepost.”

Turtles on a fence post applied faith-wise?

“…You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all in the house.”   (Matthew 5:14-15)

TURTLE with St FrancisSo, hmmmn, in one sense, we are all turtles wherever we are placed..

Caught by that thought, this turtle must don her chef hat to finish supper!

grace, peace & Turtles (on  a Fencepost)

   Virginia :  )

p.s. what happened to our turtle?  After not moving (at the edge) for what seemed like eons (!) this turtle had a wee bit of help moving to the grassy ground below….

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Suffering, Pain & (optional) Misery….

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Virginia

Someone once said, “Pain & suffering are inevitable; misery is optional.”   ‘Tis true, methinks (unless you’re suffering from kidney stones when misery is a sure thing.)

Still, misery can be a choice.  Which means not being miserable is also a choice.

Sometimes a bit of suffering enters our lives & disrupts things a little. Other times, WHAM, suffering grinds us into bits.  Whether it’s physical pain, heart pain, life pain – pain, is, well, PAIN.

It hurts.  A lot.

Take physical pain, something with which your humble blogger is (unfortunately) well acquainted.  Falling down a flight of stairs in university (back injury for life), falling up a flight of stairs on the first day of new job as a 20-something, fracturing both ankles (multiple times), dislocating a knee (out dancing), breaking a collar bone, undergoing neck-fusion surgery for misbehaving discs (NERVE PAIN!), knee surgery (and on & on)  + multiple kidney stones episodes (Virginia’s internal manufacturing plant did not get the memo to cease production!)  And, the newest challenge the past four months:  Plantar Fasciitis (in both feet!)  I am not a pain weenie (see previous list) but this has been painful.

Extremely. Painful.

Enduring weekly foot torture physical therapy sessions, trying to do what helps the pain (not much.)  Even after blissful ice-numbing propping ups, feet are still needed to move – ME – from one place to another.

Which causes THE PAIN (again.)

Physical pain tends to make me grumpy.  I pray extra hard for the grace to cope & not mope (must Be Nice to the Savvy Saints – my parents – even as I hobble to help them.)  Still, battling the grumps is also a choice.  (There’s also the challenge of tireditis, as pain grinds our bodies, minds & spirits down.)

OK, so physical pain is HARD, but methinks even more excruciatingly challenging is Heart Pain: when our love is truly trampled, our dreams dashed to dust, or we suffer the loss of dear loved ones.  When love is gone & life seems empty (an emptiness that keeps on breaking our hearts…)

Then there’s that despair inducing life pain from Detours, Disappointments and Dead Ends. When heart grumbles jumble our minds with ‘what if’s?’ ‘why me?’  ‘why this?’ ‘why now?’

Pain. Suffering. Misery.  It happens.

…So, misery is optional, how exactly?

1st-  Whatever our pain, we can look around.  Beauty may not take our pain away, but it can certainly lift our spirits.

2nd – We can lighten up.  Laughter may not be the cure for what ails us, but it sure can ease the grumps & make our pain load a bit lighter.

3rd-  We can let go & let God do something new in us. Through us.  Fill the empty places of our hearts & lives with grace (lots) & love (lots) & mercy (lots.) Let our pain draw us closer to God.

4th –  We can let our hurting hearts listen:  Thump. Thump. Thump.  Particularly today when we commemorate the Sacred Heart of Jesus, hear His Heart expand for us:

Love.    Love.   Love.

That special healing kind, that transforms the dark nights of our hearts & minds into brightest day.  The kind that blossoms love ANEW. Hope ANEW. Even, joy ANEW.

Tulip Tree BG

In this life, pain & suffering are inevitable, but misery – it’s a choice (especially not being miserable.)

It’s not easy – with body aches, heart aches, life aches.

But… possible, if we let the love of God touch us in all our achey-places.

 grace, peace & pain management

   Virginia : )

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Caught by a Thought… from inspirational(!) Helen Keller

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Virginia

Haven’t posted something in two weeks.  Ooops! …  ‘i’ll get to it when there’s time,’ but there never seems to be time unless i, uh, make time.  To. Do. Something….

So, here’s a quickie something Papa shared with us the other day from Helen Keller, the inspiring woman of courageous faith, determination & grit who  – blind AND deaf – overcame a dark, silent internal world to bring the light of knowledge to so many around the world.

“I am only one; but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  What I can do, I ought to do; and what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.”  (Helen Keller, 1880-1968)

After Helen Keller overcame her challenges, she impacted the whole world. Books have been written & movies made about her life (“The Miracle Worker” et all.)  Truly, she was – and continues to be 45 years after her death – an inspiration to so many.

What strikes me about Helen Keller’s story, however,  is also the important role of her inspiring tutor, Anne Mansfield Sullivan.  She took an unruly child, ‘lost’ in an internal hell of silence & dark, & gave her the gift of love… & communication… & education… & so much more.   When Helen eventually attended the highly touted  Radcliffe College, Miss Sullivan spelled her textbooks out letter by letter into Helen’s hands… for FOUR YEARS.

Helen Keller graduated magna cum laude.

Miss Sullivan was just one person…who helped one child….who helped millions.

Jap cherry tree with fountainWhen so much need exists around the world, in our cities, in our communities & in our families, sometimes what we can do as ‘one’ person seems like just a drop in a fountain.

But, as more & more individual drops of love & courage in each small task of faithful service pile up & overflow… a waterfall of momentum cascades hope & change & opportunity.

Maymont waterfallLike Helen Keller & Anne Mansfield Sullivan, we all have a choice, to do those somethings we can do, however small or tall, to be part of this waterfall.

grace, peace & inspirational something(s)

Virginia : )

p.s. if you would like to know more about Helen Keller’s life, click here.  While working overseas , i was also very impressed by the programs of Helen Keller International – now an active presence in 22 countries.

“Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.”  Helen Keller

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MaRmALaDe CaKe (ORANGE!)

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Virginia

If Orange Marmalade Cake reminds you of the beloved Mitford book series by Jan Karon (& all the deliciously delightful visions of food therein : )  – guess what!?!  ‘Tis THAT cake… the one Father Tim adores (!) that Esther Bolick makes for every special occasion in Mitford…

Easter cake close upAnd, yes, it has become a tradition for Virginia (your humble blogger who also doubles as the chief cook & bottle washer of the Woodward Home) to bake it at least once a year – either for Mama’s March 15th birthday or for Easter.

Easter Jan Karon cookbookOf course, it’s easy getting sidetracked with Jan Karon’s beautiful “Mitford Cookbook & Kitchen Reader” (a true work of love!) – there are so many amazing recipes & lovely excerpts from her books…

…But, this year on Easter Sunday (after recovering from a midnight post-Easter-Vigil-Lent-is-over–chocolate-fest… & the subsequent chocolate hangover) the mixing process began well until the ‘add cake flour’ part.

Whilst making the pre-Easter grocery list, it was noted that an unopened box of cake flour resided on the top shelf in the pantry.  HOWEVER,  with the butter & sugar beating away in the mixer, upon retrieval the cake flour expiry date turned out to be 2007  (SIX YEARS OLD!?)

Old flour ’tis not good for any cake, much less super-special Marmalade Cake. What to do?  Quick thinking – to turn a two layer Marmalade into a three layer with WHITE LILY flour.  I have used White Lily for biscuits & muffins & cakes ever since dearest Mildred Tabor, one of my parents’ oldest friends (& the Best Pie Baker EVER from Columbia, South Carolina) told me about it eons ago.

white lily“Every suthun’ cook just has to use White Lily – it makes a WORLD of difference…”

..and ya know what, ya’ll? Mildred is SO right.  When i use other flour in my biscuits, you can TELL.  It makes a HUGE difference (!!!!!) so i stock up at our local Food Lion since other groceries here don’t carry the southern staple White Lily… (that this is Virginia, the STATE of, you’d think other grocery chains would catch on…)

Still, ’tis a bit tricky using White Lily for such a fine cake — but by making a three layer  (definitely cutting out the baking powder) & making a few wee adjustments (see the p.s. & recipe link) … the Marmalade Cake turned out JUST FINE.

Easter cake on tableMore than just fine:  Delightfully Deliciously Fine.

Easter Marmalade Cake high viewDefinitely a ‘Hallelujah’ cake… (once you get a taste, it’s easy to start singing) … & thus totally appropriate for Easter (or special occasions, birthdays or to celebrate Spring!)

The Marmalade Cake ’twas a bit decimated after dinner.  Altho quite a big cake (especially the three layer)  it didn’t last long, at ‘tall :  )  (of course, such a cake can be carefully shared as big slices on large paper plates covered nicely with bright Glad wrap…)

Easter Marmalade cake after dinner

….& if you haven’t read Jan Karon’s books, you are in for a delightful treat getting to know Father Tim,  Cynthia, Dooley, Puny, Miss Sadie, Louella …& the host of  other Mitford characters who will become your friends. Trust me on this one – very good friends.

Start at the beginning with “At Home in Mitford” ….or if you’re an old Mitford fan, be sure not to miss Father Tim’s latest adventure with Cynthia in Ireland that turns into a mystery:  “In the Company of Others.”

They’re all good…

But, of course, check out the beautiful Mitford Cookbook & Kitchen Reader

What i also love about Jan Karon is her courageous launch into writing.  Leaving a successful advertising career, years ago she moved lock-stock & barrel from a big West Coast city to Blowing Rock, a small town in the hills of North Carolina — to pursue her dream of writing books.  But she had no inspiration. The pickings were getting kinda slim as the economy took a downturn & her savings dwindled (in her cookbook she says she learned how to cook the roast chicken bones into a big pot of soup to make it stretch.)

She writes:  “I had stepped out on faith to a new life of writing books, but discovered I knew nothing at all about writing books, the money wasn’t coming in, and the bills were piling up. Woman’s dream turns into nightmare?” 

During those trying times in ‘the valley’, however, Jan Karon’s faith deepened… & when inspiration came she persevered …& persevered …

And, now there are 16+ of her wonderful books, all BESTSELLERS, to enjoy.

Caught by a Thought:  

“If God has given you a dream, you’d better get cracking because He wants you to use it.  That’s why He gives them to us in the first place.”    Jan Karon

grace, peace & Marmalade Cakes (inspiring!)

   Virginia : )

p.s. here’s a link to the recipe Jan Karon’s “Esther’s Orange Marmalade Cake.”

To make this into a Three-Layer (with White Lily Flour) – lose the Baking Powder… use 3 1/4 cups flour, 2 & 2/3 cups sugar, 5 eggs, 2/3 cups vegetable oil (safflower has no cholesterol) – add oil after the eggs & beat for one minute before adding the buttermilk mixture … bake the 3 layers for 35 minutes & then double the marmalade & double the sour cream/ whipped cream mixture (it makes for a  fluffy delicious topping- you will want MORE!)

Easter Header

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…perspective…

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Virginia

Sometimes everything seems dark around us.  When events of reckless hate like what took place in Boston last week darken the skies, it might be easy to see everything as dark..

My heart goes out to the people of Boston – to those who lost loved ones, to those who lost limbs, to all the terrorized hearts suffering the aftermath of violence…

It may seem very dark. So. Very. Dark.

Jap Cherry Tree dark viewLike this picture i took last week of our Japanese Cherry Tree.  From this perspective, the branches seem dark and menacing. Like they’re reaching out to knock us down.

But, from a another perspective, see what difference the light makes…

Jap Cherry Tree blue viewI know it’s hard to say that anything ‘good’ can come out of terrible things… or that the difficult challenges we face in our lives are not dark (really dark!) at times.  But how we look at them – if we let the light shine behind us, to focus our eyes on what’s around us, above us – we might be able to see what lies hidden in the dark from a different perspective.

To see flowers shouting ‘hope’ along our way… God’s Heavenly Paintbrushes busy, busy,  sharing messages of hope, the sustaining kind, that lift our hearts with Light & Love when all seems dark around us …& within us.

What can i say? Roses in the Rubble (click to read the why of this blog!) began literally when i took rose photographs in the rubble of war-torn Kosovo.  I have met & know many living roses who emanate hope amidst the darkest horrors & most tremendous challenges out there.

The thing about finding Roses in the Rubble – you have to look for them.  Again, it goes back to perspective..

Are we willing to look for Light? to BE light? when all is dark…

Dogwood portrait

grace, peace & perspective

   Virginia

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caught by a (Sunday) thought…

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Virginia

Catchy phrase – ‘caught by a thought.’  Kinda appropriate for Roses in the Rubble regular visage since I like (& share!) quotes so much. And today, with the Gospel reading about Peter & John FISHING (& not catching anything, at first) ’tis even MORE appropriate (in a pun-nish way – caught? thought?)  : )

Kigoma fishing boats (2)I always like contemplating this Gospel reading in John (chapter 21) especially when struggling with discernment issues. The context: after the Crucifixion, Peter & John go back to the Zebedee Fishing Corporation (what they did before) but don’t catch any fish.  All night long – NO FISH. Then Jesus appears on the shore & challenges them to cast their nets ‘on the other side.’  When they do, BINGO. A huge catch (Overflowing Nets.)

Application?  Think Outside the Box. Try casting our nets into different waters (not the same same we keep going to.) What worked before might not be where we’re catching anything, so we need to try Something New (like the mice in ‘Who Moved My Cheese.‘)

So I like this idea, as it’s kinda cool to think outside the box (& since my best friend told me in High School that I was ‘weird.’ In a nice way, like “Ginny, you follow the beat of a different drummer.”)  Operating ‘outside of the box’ has been kinda normal for me (the only Relief & Development Worker in my MBA grad school class & all that…)

But today, after Msgr. Timothy Keeney kicked our spiritual butts at church, my liking of this passage has undergone a transformation into deeper appreciation of the applicable implications. (Maybe I don’t like it so much, so much.)   :  )

Msgr. Timothy said, “Jesus wants us to get out of our comfort zones, but we like what’s comfortable vs. venturing out into the deeper water (what’s on the right side of the boat to shore, where the fish usually don’t hang out if you’re into fishing.) We have to let Christ keep changing us.”

OK, so I’ve ventured out of what’s ‘comfortable.’ (Dodging bullets in conflict zones & traipsing around malaria infested developing zones certainly qualify.) BUT, (here’s the spiritual-butt-kicker), we must KEEP LETTING Christ push us out of our comfort zones into the deeper water (spiritually.) Like, this is a life-long process & EVERY ASSIGNMENT is  a chance for God to change us SOME MORE.

The key here is the scary word CHANGE. Not just ‘change our jobs’ or ‘change careers,’ but CHANGE OURSELVES, ie, let God change us. But we need to open our eyes & ears & hearts & minds & spirits to let go & let God do a New Thing. That might, gasp, change how we do what we do, why we do it, & (possibly) what we do.

You can’t just say, ‘Been there. Done that. Tick.’ Faith is a process. A Journey. Where we are, God may have lots to teach us (& possibly lots to change within us) to mold us into a Brighter Light (& better fisher-persons) for His Kingdom.

Ok, so in the past I did lots of fervent on-my-knees praying for huge proposals that impacted whole countries malaria-wise (or for HIV/AIDS or water or agriculture or refugees or what what) that Seemed Very Important to Make A Big Difference in millions of lives (the saving of.) God is good (all the time) & many lives were/are being saved.

…Coming home to help my parents, however, I’ve learned that even more on-the-knees prayer is needed because how I do what I do matters to God. Mopping the kitchen floor does not seem terribly important in the Grand Scheme of life & faith & well, stuff.  But, methinks it does matter (to God) that the floor be mopped. Joyfully (preferred method indicative of Heavenly Assistance) and WITH love. IN love. FOR love. BY love.

This is (indeed) Hard To Do (the joyful love bits, especially after little sleep?!) Or when emotions get whacked (especially after little sleep) & we say to God, “but I’m just a Nothing Nobody!”

… God’s  reply: “YOU ARE A SOMETHING SOMEBODY.”

Caught by a thought:  We are Something Somebodies, Precious Ones, Beloved of God. Despite where we’ve been, or what we’ve done, or what we now do — God still has lots of somethings for us outside what & where & how we’re comfortable (with lots of Heavenly Help, methinks, heading out into Deep Waters ’tis possible to do!)

Kigoma Lake Tanganyika

grace, peace & Change* (hearts open to)

Virginia : )

*even ‘Radical Change’ (as mentioned by Msgr. Timothy this a.m.)

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The Easter Bunny (a REAL one!) … & Marmalade Cakes

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Virginia

Easter bunny insideI do not know the why of how the Easter Bunny got mixed up in the religious celebration of  the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but for Some Reason the Easter Bunny gets Very Busy just before Easter Sunday making Easter baskets filled with Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs, Jelly Beans & Other Goodies (my basket was Especially Good this year with special treats from Mad About Chocolate – oh What Bliss after a Long Lenten fast from the the beautiful taste of CHOCOLATE!) 

However they arrive, Easter baskets are usually QUITE Yummy AND Fun!!!

Google-ing the Easter Bunny to see what’s what (click here to read a fully researched summary) …’ tis so very interesting that the Lutherans started it … the Easter Bunny treat-bearing tradition, that is.  The rabbit, however, played a role in  medieval religious art often symbolizing the Virgin Mary or the Trinity …

Cool.

Even More Cool since this year Something Extraordinary happened: the Easter Bunny came to the Woodward Home FOR REAL.  Whilst baking a very special Easter Cake (more on that later) – i looked out the kitchen window to see THE EASTER BUNNY IN OUR BACK YARD munching away through his lunch of our green grass.

After taking a few pics through our kitchen windows…

Easter bunny from window

I ventured outside. Instead of hurriedly hopping away, the Easter Bunny preenishly posed for a good 20 minutes while i crept around (camera in hand) clicking away to within 3 feet of him.  (What a good sport!)

Easter Bunny outside

Check out his cute bunny tail!!  :  )

Easter bunny from side

… After my photo-op  interruption, he went back to munching his lunch.

Easter bunny eating grass

WHAT A SPECIAL VISIT- ON EASTER SUNDAY …

Easter bunny portrait

FROM THE EASTER BUNNY!!!

Easter lilies

grace, peace & Easter Joy (more of)

Virginia : )

p.s. oops, will have to share about The Marmalade Cake tomorrow …. (’twas too much fun choosing bunny pics from Sunday’s huge photo haul : )

Easter Hawk

p.s.2 …  hopefully our precious Easter Bunny will not be caught unawares by the Red Shouldered Hawk who frequents our mailbox… & environs…

UNFORTUNATELY(!)

Last summer we so enjoyed watching a cute small bunny hop about our back yard from just a wee size to mid size.  Then one day my Mama saw a hawk fly down &  snatch that poor wee bunny with its sharp talons & carry it away.

The wee bunny was seen no more…        : (

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Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ….

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Virginia

Dashing to the Easter Vigil service – one of my favorites of the whole year (& also the longest, hence this quickie post as last year did not get home until well after midnight!)  

As we end our Lenten fasts & begin our Easter celebrations of Resurrected Love, here’s a quote from Saint Benedict (of Nursia) to contemplate:

“Jesus is life and power, and as soon as He enters in, He awakens my slumbering soul; He stirs and soothes and pierces my heart, for before it was hard as stone and diseased.  So He has begun to pluck out and destroy, to build up and to plant, to water dry places and illuminate dark ones; to open what was closed and to warm what was cold; to make the crooked straight and the rough places smooth, so that my soul may bless the Lord, and all that is with me may praise His Holy Name.”    Saint Benedict

Saint Benedict also said we should strive to “prefer nothing to Christ”  – “ut in omnia glorficetur Deo” – that in ALL things God may be glorified.

Christ in you & me, the Hope of Glory – GOD’S GLORY..

White Rose Galilee (2)

grace, peace & Easter Joy (& LOVE : )

Virginia

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Who is Jesus to Me??

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Virginia

On this Good Friday as we contemplate the Passion of Jesus Christ & the why of it all, here are words from one of my favorite women of faith, Mother Teresa..

WHO IS JESUS TO ME?

Jesus is the Word — to be spoken.

Jesus is the Truth — to be told.

Jesus is the Way — to be walked.

Jesus is the Light — to be lit.

Jesus is the Life — to be lived.

Jesus is the Love  — to be loved.

Jesus is the Joy — to be shared.

Jesus is the Sacrifice — to be offered.

Jesus is the Peace — to be given.

Jesus is the Hungry — to be fed.

Jesus is the Thirsty — to be satiated.

Jesus is the Naked — to be clothed.

Jesus is the Homeless — to be taken in.

Jesus is the Sick — to be healed.

Jesus is the Lonely  — to be loved.”

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Taibeh old St Georges Church (3)

grace, peace & Good Friday Love

Virginia

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…serving others (in difficult places) …

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Virginia

On Holy Thursday we reflect upon Jesus washing the disciples’ feet – and how He asks us to Do The Same for those around us. This can be particularly challenging when we are placed in difficult circumstances…

Vung Tau Christ statue (2)While a Catholic Bishop in Saigon, Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan was imprisoned by the North Vietnamese for 13 years. In his book, “Testimony of Hope,” he shares how being chained to others from different faiths led to friendships & how members of the camp (political prisoners, leaders of other religions, military leaders etc.) elected him bursar, “which gave me the responsibility of serving everyone, distributing food, getting the hot water, & carrying on my back the coal to keep us warm during the night.  All this because the other prisoners considered me a man worthy of trust.“

What humility! … & what a testimony … he continues:

“Jesus, crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, made me understand that I had to engage in a new form of evangelization… going outside, for all my life, to the very limits of my capacity to love and give of myself… – for all.

In the  obscurity of faith, in service and in humiliation, the light of hope had changed my vision. I understood that at this point, in this prison, was my most beautiful cathedral, and that these prisoners, without exception, were the people of God entrusted to my pastoral care…“ (Testimony of Hope, p. 79)

(you can read more about Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan’s life by clicking here.) 

Vung Tau flowers (2)

“What is important is not the number of your activities, but the degree of love which transforms them.”    Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan (The Road of Hope)

Maybe we should take a page out of Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan’s book(s).  We need a push to stretch our hearts to full capacity for the love of Christ to expand our give-ability to those around us (& even folks we may not particularly like?) … that we may serve others as witnesses of Hope & conduits of God’s love.

grace, peace & Transforming Love

    Virginia

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