A Special Day

Posted on April 8, 2021 by M. E. Murray

Dear Readers,

I would like to introduce you to Saint Charbel. Pope Paul VI declared him a saint on October 9, 1977. Saint Charbel has performed many miracles. The people he has helped have placed ribbons (relics from the saint) with messages expressing gratitude for his help on his statue located at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Brownsville, Texas.

In general, his followers celebrate him on the 3^rd Sunday of July, May 8, and October 9 (the anniversary of his canonization). Also, on the 8^th day of each month, at noon, a special mass and procession with his relic are held at the parish of Nuestra Señora De Libano in Mexico City for parishioners, dead or alive, for the spiritual and physical health of the sick, and for all of Saint Charbel’s friends and followers.

Today is April 8. I will be present in Mexico City in spirit at the celebratory mass and procession to ask my dear friend, Saint Charbel, to take care of my husband and my sister, and to help me cope with fibromyalgia and a new painful medical diagnosis. Today, I ask him for help, and I ask my readers and followers to pray for me and anybody who needs help. I hope to be one of the folks that Saint Charbel helps, so I can express my gratitude in writing on ribbons that I will place on his statue at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Dear Jesus and Saint Charbel, thank you for being by my side for so many years.

Rough Terrain

Posted on March 26, 2021 by M. E. Murray

Dear Readers, around 1897, Mark Twain wrote, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” I mention his quotation because it’s been a while since I’ve blogged. But I have experienced some rough times last year, and now it seems that 2021 has started on that same treacherous 2020 road. I hope there is a fork in the road, and that choosing the correct one will lead to better times. Those folks who follow me already know that I am taking care of my sister, and that I suffer from a wicked illness, fibromyalgia, so I won’t discuss it. Please don’t misunderstand me. In spite of the horrible pain, I’m happy to be alive! I also don’t want to bore you to death with my 24/7 ailments. Instead, I’ll tell you why I chose to write about a pair of old roller skates.

When I was a child, probably 12 years old, Dad bought a pair of well-used roller skates, similar to the ones depicted in the picture. I’m assuming he got them at an auction; he always got us second hand items because he couldn’t afford to buy us new ones. Well, my siblings didn’t try the roller skates. The straps were broken. But I used some rope I found in our home and managed to tie the skates to my ill-clad feet. Our front porch had wooden railings that I could cling to, so the porch became my trying out ground. Every day, wearing the skates, I clung to the wooden railings, and for a few minutes I rolled back and forth on the left side of the porch where a bench sat.
One day, I got brave enough to tackle the sidewalk. There was nothing to cling to, so I lost my balance and landed in my mother’s flower bed. That was definitely not a good place to fall. I squashed mom’s favorite plants and scraped my knees, legs, and elbows. Luckily, I didn’t break break any bones, only my ego. I did my best to fix mom’s plants, but still got a mild reprimand. When I recovered from the scratches and soreness garnered from the unexpected landing in Mom’s garden, I shifted my skating routine to the driveway. But I wasn’t skating. I was walking with skates. (Yes. You may laugh.) It took me a while to learn how to skate on the rough surfaces of the driveway and the sidewalk. I say, ‘a while’ because it took some time for Mom’s plants to recover. Yes! The plants survived. I earned Mom’s forgiveness, and I learned how to skate on rough terrain with an old pair of dilapidated skates. Yay!
So, why did I write about a pair of old roller skates? The skates remind of ‘the good old times’, those days when family and friends enjoyed each other’s company, even though, we lived in an impoverished neighborhood. I miss the ‘good old days’, especially now because I’m losing the last of my siblings to alzheimer’s.

2020 Presidential Election

Posted on November 1, 2020 by M. E. Murray

Many years ago, during a presidential election, I sat on the front steps of our house, enjoying the cool summer breeze. (Our underprivileged Mexican American family lived in an impoverished neighborhood in a house that didn’t have central air and heat.)

One evening, while Mom took care of the dinner dishes with my older sister’s help, my self-employed Dad rested, after a hard day’s work, and watched the Republican convention in the living room. As Republicans voiced their opinions about the Democrats, Dad displayed his annoyance with the current administration by yelling at the TV set, “We need a Democratic president!” I had no idea why Dad was so troubled. After all, we were fortunate to live in a democratic country, the USA.

As the years went by, I always got into some serious discussions with my oldest brother. I don’t remember the specific quarrel, but I never forgot hollering, “I have rights!”

“Rights?!” My brother responded. “You don’t have any rights!”

A teenager at the time, I did not have a retort, so I let the discussion terminate.

My dear brother passed away October 6, 2016. I miss him a lot. I wish he were here to argue with me about the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 presidential election.

I am older now and realize that I do have rights, especially the right to vote which I just exercised. My husband and I voted by mail early last week. Dear readers, please vote. Together, we can improve our nation. Please vote and pray that our country will again make us proud to be called Americans.

Help for Tough Times

Posted on October 4, 2020 by M. E. Murray

This morning does not differ from my usual schedule—thank Jesus I made it to another day; take my medication, get dressed, make the bed. Ahead the bedroom door is closed. It used to be open so my Kitty (Klyban) had access to the bedroom, food, water, and his litter box. I try not to sadden myself because I no longer have him, but I have his brother, Marty.

Prayer is part of my daily schedule, especially today, because it is St. Francis’ feast day. I ask him to take care of my husband, sister, Marty (our cat), and Twister, (our dog). Furthermore, I pray for animals and people who are on their own. They need our help to survive during these tough times. I finish my prayers asking Jesus for the usual things, and then I try to do some work on the computer. These days computer work mostly involves trying to help my sister who has Alzheimer’s and lives with us.

Breakfast time comes around so I open my bedroom door with thoughts of visiting my website to tell the world that today is St. Francis’s feast day. With the help of my Rollator walker, I head to the kitchen to make breakfast. Along the way, I visit with Marty for a few seconds as he scurries to the bedroom for food and water. Meanwhile, I fix cereal and oatmeal for my sister. (My husband has a different meal plan, his own.) As I eat breakfast Assisi, Italy, comes to mind. Yes. I was there. For a few hours, I treaded on holy ground. A feeling of holiness drifts into my body as I realize that Jesus walked around that holy city, too.

I don’t have a picture of St. Francis, but I selected a few pictures of my former and present pets. I’m sure St. Francis played a part in their care and in my life. He helped me learn to use my time more efficiently in spite of having Fibromyalgia. I’m not perfect. Because of the pain, I have my moments, but Jesus, St Francis, and their friends have helped me through some very rough times.

Here are the prayers that I daily say to St. Francis and Jesus when I wake up in the morning.

Prayer to Jesus

Dear Jesus, thank you for letting me live another day, and please help me make today a beautiful day.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Have a nice day! Stay safe, and thanks for visiting my website.

Feast of The “Assumption”

Posted on August 15, 2020 by M. E. Murray

Antique shuttle decorated with a figure of the Blessed Virgin

Covid-19 and fibromyalgia brought my antique and collectible searching to a screeching stop. Among the few collectibles that I have, I own an antique shuttle weaving needle. My husband bought it for me a few years ago because he knows how much I love the Blessed Virgin, Jesus Christ, and all the saints. They have helped me in so many ways, and I treasure the shuttle. It is special. A person, probably a devout Catholic, decorated it with a figure of the Blessed Virgin, nestled it in fine fabric, and attached flowers to its ends. (Here’s a different view of my shuttle.)

Blessed Virgin Nestled in an Antique Shuttle

August 15, Christians and Roman Catholics celebrate a holy day of obligation commemorating the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven after she died. If you would like to read more about this holy day, click here.

The Many Faces of June 19

Posted on June 18, 2020 by M. E. Murray

Several atrocities occurred during the spring of 2020, so I chose to enrich my blog with a picture of a downy woodpecker in its nest. The picture was taken by my husband in our backyard during the spring season which will end June 20. Although many events occur in June, the most salient ones took place on June 19.

1.Juneteenth. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19^th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. (This information was obtained at https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm.)

Here are other events that occurred on June 19:

2. My favorite cartoon character, Garfield, was born on June 19, 1978, the day the first Garfield strip was published. Here is a copy of my favorite strip:

3. International Box Day. If you have cats, this is the time to watch them jump in and out of a cardboard box, or hide in one.

4.National Martini Day. I don’t drink. But in case you do, June 19 is the perfect time to relax with a martini and forget the turmoil caused by the invisible enemy, COVID-19.

Have a nice day!

Happy Easter Sunday

Posted on April 12, 2020 by M. E. Murray

Happy Easter! Today Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His suffering to save us from our sins.

Have a wonderful day, and don’t forget to thank and pray for all the kind folks who are working around the clock to help people survive the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Good Friday

Posted on April 10, 2020 by M. E. Murray

Two Trees Surrounded by Grass and Wildflowers

Dear readers, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we have been experiencing very difficult times, but I hope that this peaceful picture, one of my favorites, provides some comfort.

Initially, I had posted a picture of Christ’s crucifixion since today is Good Friday, but the picture reminded me of how much He suffered. I can’t imagine how the Blessed Virgin Mary must have felt to see her son being tortured mercilessly. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do what she did. She probably knew what His future entailed; yet, she courageously supported her son throughout his suffering and final death on the cross.

Dear Jesus, thank you for saving us from our sins, and kudos to you for proving to agnostics that You were the son of God when You resurrected on the third day after your death.

On this special day, Good Friday, I ask you to encourage humanity to follow Covid-19 guidelines, so our medical community will not have such a hard time treating folks who have contracted the virus. Also, I pray that You help our scientists develop a Covid-19 vaccine so we may win this awful battle against this virus. Lastly, please help us control global warming so we may preserve the beautiful world You created for us.

Holy Week Begins today.

Posted on April 5, 2020 by M. E. Murray

**Jesus Praying to his Father at the Garden of Gethsemane**

Palm Sunday, the last Sunday of Lent, marks the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus Christ’s triumphant entrance to Jerusalem where He was greeted by people carrying palm fronds; only to be crucified later by the same people who welcomed Him.

Palm Sunday is a time to reflect on God’s love for us. He sent us his only begotten son to save us from ourselves. Jesus suffered immensely. After His terrible death on the cross, He resurrected three days later. That action proved Jesus was the son of God.

Easter Sunday is a reminder that God loves me, and has always been by my side, especially through tough times. Today, and every day, I thank Jesus for loving me, my husband, relatives, pets, and friends.

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Posted on March 17, 2020 by M. E. Murray

Today is St. Patrick’s Feast Day. He was the bishop and patron saint of Ireland. During his lifetime, Saint Patrick performed many miracles. I regard him with utmost respect, and pray to him for help which we really need to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Many folks celebrate St. Patrick’s feast day by drinking green beer, wearing green clothes (In my school days, I recall that if I wasn’t wearing anything green, I would get pinched by a classmate . I don’t know where or when this practice originated.If you know, drop me a line.), and looking for shamrocks, specifically a four leaf clover .

I never had the pleasure of tasting green beer. (I don’t drink now, so I will never know how it tastes.) However, I admit looking for a four leaf shamrock when I collected insects, never saw one, though. If you want to learn more about St. Patrick click here.