Today's Gospel

Matthew 25: 14 - 30
14	"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;
15	to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16	He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.
17	So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18	But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19	Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20	And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21	His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
22	And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
23	His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
24	He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;
25	so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26	But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
27	Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28	So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29	For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30	And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'

...and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Lately I have had mixed fealing about the gospel readings.

I love them because they remind me of GodSpell and I have so so so many fond memories of being in the 6th grade and performing GodSpell. It makes me think of my cousins Chris and Ryan and  what an awesome place we were in our lives. I remember being so proud of my cousin Chris for his part in the show. I was proud to be a part of it and really felt "cool" that I could hang out with my too older cousins after school every day. I really learned a lot about theater and about the Gospels from that experience.

But even though I learned a lot as a child, as an adult I am having a hard tim applying them to my life. It has been taking a couple of days later for me to be able to reflect and understand.

All that aside, I like this "Normal Time", it is comfortable and meaningful.

Todays Gospel

Matthew 23: 1 - 12
1	Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples,
2	"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat;
3	so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.
4	They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.
5	They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
6	and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,
7	and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.
8	But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.
9	And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
10	Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ.
11	He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;
12	whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Funny Things My Kids Say V

8/16/2011

Nicholas "home home on the range where the beer and apple loaf play"

8/13/2011

Nicholas says he isn't going to brush his teeth anymore because he wants to have gold teeth like a pirate.

8/7/2011

I told the boys im going to make them pirate boots and jack said "ok tomorrow can we get a ship with a canon?"

8/5/2011

I just witnessed Nicholas on the playground reaching his hand out to another kid and saying "high my name is nicholas, what's your name" the kid told him his name, they shook hands and nicholas said "its very nice to meet you"

7/30/2011

Jack says im his girlfriend.

Nicholas has a girlfriend named Ashlyn "she looks 3 and has squirly hair"

Nicholas told me he knew Spanish yesterday so I told him to say something in Spanish. He said "Burrito"


7/23/2011
The boys fish died yesterday (over fed, you should have seen how much food was in this things belly). Nicholas was really upset and said "I need a pet! We have to go buy a dog!!" Sob sob sob...

The second half of summer.

I had a lot of plans this summer and started off with some really good intentions. But then some changes happened in our lives and we weren't quite able to do all of the things we wanted to do. We spent the really hot days inside, mainly because mommy wasn't feeling up to being outside.

We played games and built with Legos.

We read some books and and played with our toys.

 On the weekends we went to some festivals.

 We went to the Blues Festival, Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Visitation. We had fun and at Visi fest Grandma even helped you win some money! Of course we brought home a ton of little plastic toys.

 Mommy finally made those pirate boots you had been asking for. It only took an entire Sunday afternoon/evening but it was worth it.

Now the weather has been cooler and Jack and Nicholas are playing outside with Daddy. What lucky boys they are to have such an awesome Daddy. I feel pretty lucky to be in this place we are in somewhere between here and there. Absolutely content but on the edge of my seat waiting for the next thing.

So go tell John, we are ready to take on whatever is God's will.

Happy 4th of July!

Nicholas and Jack have been sick the last week or so and it has really been weighing on me. Everytime they get just a little sick and not better right away I get so worried, so much anxiety.

So Friday morning, Nicholas woke up with a weird cough, his lips were blue and he couldn't catch a breath. I didn't know what to do so I packed him up in the car and took him to the ER. Saturday morning he seamed even worse, had a strider with everybreath and his heart seemed to be racing. We took him to the doctor and got a Rx. That night was the worst of all with a higher fever and getting sick. But when he woke up Sunday morning. He was so much better. And I feel a lot better about it. I was really worried.

So with Nicholas feeling better we went to mass (which was its own story) and came home to take naps. Then we went out and celebrated Independence Day.

 We started in Downtown Lebanon with some icecream from Whit's.

 Nicholas chose a chocolate covered Banana.

 He wasn't in the best mood, but he was a trooper.

 "Happy Birthday 'Merica"

 Jack got his face painted with pink and blue fireworks (he chose the colors)

 Jack wanted to make sure the little ones got their share of cornmeal. Nicholas wanted to make sure he got some hand sanitizer.

 Snow Cones.

 Jack in his cape and mask, watching th fireworks on the back porch.

Nicholas was more concerned about "Lemonade Mouth" than watching fireworks. But I was just happy to have him up and hanging out with us so I didn't mind.

At mass our guest priest talked in his homily about "wearing a yolk for Jesus" the yolk is our burden to love. What an easy request to fill. All we have to do is love and live with love.

Go tell John, Happy 4th of July!

Today's Gospel Reading

Matthew 25: 31 - 46
31	"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32	Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33	and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
34	Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35	for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36	I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
37	Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
38	And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
39	And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
40	And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
41	Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
42	for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43	I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
44	Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'
45	Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'
46	And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."