Friends are the best gifts to have....and if they are there for you in both good times and in bad, you really have a treasure! The picture is of Sheri and John Diamatis, owners of Beef O'Brady's on Merritt Island, Florida. Their business began prior to the five hurricanes that crossed the state of Florida a few years ago. So many of us were without electric, and heat was unbearable afterward. Yet, Beef O'Brady's on Merritt Island were open, had electric, and posted on their sign that their air conditioner was on. The entire community flocked to Beefs .... and to each of our surprise we were each given a complimentary cold beverage (non alcohol) as well as a large cup of ice and another complimentary refill of our beverage upon leaving. Sheri and John are a beautiful couple, who are always giving forward to another.... It could be a fund raiser for a child in need (to reduce medical costs) or hosting a school's night (where 10% of proceeds are given to the school to purchase things that are needed). Beef O'Brady's of Merritt Island is a community "Cheers", and continues to serve whenever the need exits...

Friendship is so needed especially these days. So many of us have been forced to work longer hours for less money, and have much less energy to give to a relationship. Even in the Bible we have many areas mentioning friends... "no longer strangers, but friends"... Hopefully, I can project the gift of friendship to those I meet, as well as those I love. Perhaps, I will be blessed with many close friends for the rest of my life, and that I might become close friends with others.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing my life with my best friend, my husband. Thank you for the friendships throughout my life time....and thank you for Sheri and John who have opened their hearts to the community.

Prayer

One nation....under God! .....but the National Day of Prayer will not be held at the White House this year... the same as last year under the current Administration. The day was a simple day which invited pastors of different faiths and denominations to gather for breakfast at the White House, and each were asked to give a prayer for our nation. This did not proclaim one religion as being the national religion.

So, for the second year in a row, President Obama still plans to issue a proclamation for May 6 as a day of prayer (just won't be at the White House). There is no plan for a gathering of people at the Capitol for this national day for prayer, as was awarded to another religious group last fall for their national day of prayer.

Michael Bresciani notes,"Our naitonal identity and our Christian roots are being ignored, denied or challenged on every level. President Obama's administration started off in the same vein with his now famous proclamation that America is 'not a Christian nation.' Of course we are not a "Christian" nation, because there is no such thing."

The Freedom form Religion Foundation filed against the proclamation in October 2008. US Districk Judge Barbara Crabb in Madison, Wisconsin, said the proclaimation "violates" the First Amendment rule that prohibits laws respecting the establishment of religion. WOW!!!!! This makes me breathless.....

I personally do not need anyone to encourage me to pray. Prayer is something that I do each and every moment with my words and my actions. Prayer is not foreign to me. It is my constant companion and communication with my Creator. ....and in some way I can understand the strange events of this time period of the United States. How many times has this nation spit in the face of God? We have abortion of babies with later term abortions, we have abortion of human beings who have a heart beat by the 18th day, we have cloning, we have destruction of human frozen embryos, we have euthanasia, we have persecution of His Church, we have people getting rich from litigation with His Church .....and the list goes on...

On May 6th I will pray, the same as I do each and every moment of my life. Join me, won't you? ...and if you are so inclined, encourage others to join you....

Tonight....tonight....won't be just any night..... because tonight the golden tenor voice of Mark Tisdel, the piano styling of Manfred Dreilich, with flutist Alexia Jowers, and percussionist Ted Molina with vocalist Jennifer Hickman will be gracing Brevard County with another incredible concert. Both Mark and Manfred are recording artists, and their music is on "i-tunes" as well as by CDs. St.John the Evangelist Catholic Community is hosting the event, which will benefit an organization who's goal is to eliminate hunger and poverty in Africa.

For many years (almost two decades) Mark Tisdel and Manfred Dreilich have offered their talents to worthwhile campaigns in Michigan and in Florida. They are the perfect example of giving of time, talent, and treasure. The treasure is the countless hours of practice, relentless rehearsing .... and their talents do not remain hidden beneath a basket.

What would the world be like if everyone on the planet (yes, EVERYONE) would follow such an example of giving? There would be no time for war, for gang activity, for degrading another, for cruelty, or anything malicious. Mental health of everyone would become positive because all the negative energy that causes crime, pain, hurts, and incredible grief would dissipate. To take my time for another when I feel rushed is difficult, but when I do make the time for that person, my heart dances with joy....and the activity that I am late for really was insignificant as I did not need to be wasting my time in such a fashion....

The hour is drawing closer for us to leave the house for the concert. Thank you, God, for the talent, the treasure and the time that Alexia, Jennifer, Ted, Mark and Manfred are giving this Friday night... tonight..... tonight....... tonight...

Finally transplanted our tomato plants this evening. Seems like the day slips away quickly...now that I'm in my 60s. The sunset was not far away as I watered all my plants. Yet, somehow the time spent in prayer is increasing....and that is wonderful!

Against the evening sky, my husband and I watched the launching of the new space aircraft and the white plume it left against the blue sky. It is hard to imagine that the Space Coast will no longer have the Shuttle at year's end. It is even harder to realize that Brevard County's unemployment will rise (and it's already in the double digits). No matter what happens God is in control!

Pleasant dreams Brevard County and the rest of the world....

On a beautiful sunny morning, friends and coworkers from my Wuesthoff family gathered to join in the annual heart walk. The funds generated provide cardiac care and additional support for patients and family members. It was such a beautiful time. Unfortunately, I am limited in my walking, having gained a disability from a motor vehicle accident. Yet, my thoughts were with them as they walked the distance .....

Isn't it amazing how people eagerly place themselves in the fore front of physical fitness and endurance? If we asked everyone that was present "do you put the same training and effort into your spiritual life", what would be the answers? We cannot talk about our religions openly because many people jump right in with "there is separation of church and state". On public school grounds, no one is allowed to pray. Our children are being limited in their thinking and creativity if they draw anything religious or want to sing Christmas carols, and the list goes on and on...

Recently, students have returned to school from "Spring Break". In the 50s and 60s the public schools were closed for Holy Week (not Spring Break). The week between Christmas and New Year's Day was known as Christmas Break, now being renamed as some winter break. It was not uncommon to see parents with their children openly say Grace before a meal. Thankfully, I can tell you that more and more families are returning to giving thanks prior to eating.

As I age, I hope and pray that my Creator will be pleased with my spiritual fitness, and be happy that disability allowed me to participate as best I could physically.
Good night, Brevard County. (and now it's my time for Spiritual fitness and prayer....)

One nation....under God! In God we trust...... (maybe you don't but I certainly do)..

The Tea Party movement is certainly catching on. Watching those who have been able to freely speak their minds is beautiful, especially when they are recalling the facts of our founding fathers, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Perhaps we are ready for a new party.... the Constitutionalists.... has a beautiful sound to it!

Maybe I will join.....

Blessed are they . . .

What an introspective review of the Church can reveal....and what the media choose to report! Newsweek has just published a report which shows that "there is no data to support the claim" that Catholics "have a much bigger problem with child molestation than other denominations and the general population." FINALLY we have facts to support this from Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (taken from "both studies and surveys conducted by different denomination over the past 30 years"). Even the insurance companies that cover sexual misconduct has statistics to support no "vast difference in the incidience rate between one denomination and another... and has been that way for decades", as stated in this report by Newsweek.

Sadly enough, the podium of public opinion spout devastating verbage about our Priests, condemning opening even our Holy Father. The US Council of Catholic Bishops had a study conducted following the horrible scandals in 2002. Less than five percent of priests were accused of sexual misconduct involving children. Yet, the continued battering of our clergy is disturbing and outrageous. Even Bill O'Reilly on Fox News is going after Cardinal Bernard Law.

Granted, no one should be exempt in any organization, corporation or company for accepting the mainstream psycho babble that sexual offenders could be rehabilitated; but, that was exactly the course of treatment for these persons for decades. Rehabilitate then reassign or return to the current posting/assignment. Until the 1990s the psychiatrists and psychologists called that "shots" so to speak, rehabilitating any sexual offender. It is any surprise to the rest of us that this rationale of care did not work. Yet, where is the accountability of these professionals that treated the molesters and sexual offenders? Why are we, the public, not outraged at their poor judgement in this treatment process? All organizations followed this protocol, including the Church.

Maybe, it is time to really hold accountable those individuals responsible for misguiding the corporations, companies, organizations and the Churches. This is where we, the public, really need to investigate and follow through. (One of my friends disclosed that her psychologist encouraged her to masterbait as part of her therapy. Despite my outrage that another person could influence a Catholic woman to defile herself and the Temple of the Holy Spirit, my friend did not understand my concern. Only until recently have psychotherapists recognized the importance of a person's faith.)

So, instead of persecuting our Priests, Bishops, and the Holy Father, let us look in the mirror first and ask ourselves "have I followed the heard mentality of the media, of the general public, of anyone in line to malign or slander the Catholic faith?" Personally, I am asking that we place Pope Benedict, all our Bishops, and all our Priests, Brothers, and Decons under the protection of the Blessed Mother.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Oh, what a beautiful Easter season this is! Celebrating the God's merciful love for humanity, we gathered yesterday at Our Saviour's Catholic Community in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The celebrant, a Marian priest, provided a very insightful homily on human's being at their best and at their worst. He recounted how a man was cured of his leprosy. The man, who sought to be cured, expected a difficult remedy but was given a simple one. He essentially was indignant to follow such a simple plan. Yet, he was willing to follow a complicated plan for his cure. He was stubborn and stupid. After having someone bring this to his attention, he did as he was instructed....to follow the simple plan and he bathed in the river for a prescribed time period. Yes, he was cured.

Reflecting on these words, oh how many times have I been stubborn and stupid......so stubborn that I created mountains of pain and heartache just to have my way and not be willing to listen to others.. Oh, how many times I have been stupid in my choices, not seeing beyond the immediate outcome, reacting to circumstances instead of assessing and listening and making an informed choice.

Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) is a celebration of God's Mercy for each of us. The Divine Mercy Chaplet has been recited as well as sung, ...... The message of mercy is so clear, and the image of Divine Mercy has a beauty of breathlessness and peace... with the verse... "Jesus, I trust in you." This was an invitation to all to immerse ourselves in God's merciful love. We sang the Chaplet after mass as we adored our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Concluding we with Benediction, each of us lingered in Church (myself feeling the warmth of deep love and peace)....

Have you had a time similar to this....where time was going forward and you wanted to remain there in the moment of God's love? Are your Sundays filled with the Son? Have you allowed yourself to trust in God's merciful love? Have you asked the Holy Spirit for guidance and help? Take a moment's rest... and allow yourself to experience a "peace that passes all understanding"..... Jesus, I trust in You..... Jesus, I trust in You.... Jesus, I Trust in You.