Ying's late Birthday present

Happy late Birthday to you!

Happy late Birthday to you!

Happy late Birthday dear Ying!

Happy Birthday to you!

My motto is better late than never even though I'm embarrassed. I look forward to spending time soon with my dear friend Ying. I can't wait to see what she thinks about her late birthday present and to hear more about her exciting recent trip to China (her home Country).
She, Kay and I are 'dreaming of a sea trip' to China in a coming year or two if it all works out. We have our pass ports...just not the fare...yet.

Ying, something special is waiting for you. Come see me soon!

 (photo of Ying's tea set, chop sticks and Patty Cake)

Seaside Swap fun with Ina from the Netherlands!

My Seaside Swap package is being mailed this week. Ina and I got a little late start for this swap...but a little late is better than not at all.
A preview to share with all of you....in the photo above, the little cute mermaid...I made for my swap partner Ina who lives in the Netherlands. One of the details for the swap is to include one handmade gift and this is what I came up with.

I hope that Ina will have fun putting these earrings together. There are a couple of styles to choose from. Maybe she'll choose the sea shell pattern!

Here is one of my first 'finds' for the swap. A sea shell bracelet with little light beads set in between. Very sweet!

Other little swap gift items include a sun glasses holder for the car  visor (I added the dots for the lady bug look). Other fun stuff...gifts from the sea 'beautiful little seashells', a Quilters magazine filled with crafting project ideas, a little package of 2 lace applique hearts, a new buckle luggage tag for Ina's next trip to the seaside, a miniature sewing machine 'just for fun' and inspiration, a package of country blue paper for creating package bows and last but not least...the luau Party CD...with sounds from the isles..."Kuku, Hapa 'I, Kini', On the beach of Waikiki, Paradise Island" to name a few.

I added some small pieces of pretty colored fabric from my sewing craft box for her. Ina shared that she likes to sew. Maybe she'll create something pretty with them.

I have enjoyed anchoring down for the Seaside Swap with Ina. This swap hosted by http://wwwcraftysmiles.blogspot.com/. What a neat and interesting new friend I've made! We'll try and stay in touch with one another via e-mail even though we live clear across the big beautiful Atlantic Ocean from each other. I will think about Ina when I get to a seaside, one of my favorite places I love to go. 

The Ever-Changing Sea

You can say it is blue, and green as you define the color it has turned to purple, or green, or gray, or black, or violet, and back to blue again. You can say it is restless, and while you speak the wind drops, the swells subside and from horizon to horizon there is no ripple, no flaw, no movement, only a vast sheer of pallid satin color. You can say it is calm and it rises and sweep your cost cities away, throws your ships ashore, washes the keels of the flying cloud above. A the last, when you have sailed long enough and far enough, you come to understand that the sea is everything. It is calm and restless, stormy and laughing, many-hued and one-colored, salty and fresh, warm and cold, an enemy and a friend, a help and a hindrance, a tragedy and a jest. Everything! Sufficient for every mood, for every dream for every hope, for every sorrow.

Wilbert Richard Wetien (1900-1940)

From "Way For A Sailor"

A Real Rooster and my other roosters to crow about!

"Who are the two guys in the Bravada? Don't they want to see me too?"

My cushy kitchen sink floor mat from Walmart.

"and...very true! he, he, he"

OK guys...this is true.

Plates from a favorite Newton, KS Antique Mall. My husband bought these for me.

First, thank you Barb at Bella Vista for hosting this fun rooster party!!! Barb's roosters are amazingly beautiful...check out her blog if you want to be delighted.

Don't you like stain glass lights? This rooster is a favorite in my collection...I've been blessed to find more than one or two and I pass them on to Cursillo friends. I'm a country girl at heart and I shared in an earlier comment that roosters have a special meaning to me?

A little 'nut shell' story...

 In my Catholic faith we share a Spanish word in the Cursillo Movement "De Colores" which means colors. Cursillo is another Spanish word that means "small course in Christianity". There are Cursillo weekends for both women and men. On this '3 day walk' weekend you listen to wonderful talks on all different subjects usually prepared carefully by a team of two Priests, a Sister and a large group 'very faith filled lay persons'. The talks are 'real' and inspiring both!

Now... where do the roosters come in (you may be wondering)?

Following the first Cursillo in Spain many many years ago, the bus that the pilgrims were traveling home on, broke down. The men stepped out of the bus and started singing because...gets so good here...they were so happy and filled with good grace! They decided to sing about God's love...after their fantastic weekend, receiving the Sacraments, fellowship, prayer, building community with one another...they were filled with Sanctifying Grace. It's that amazing grace we encounter when we turn our lives over completely to God.

As they began singing...a huge rainbow appeared which they noticed right away. As they looked around to their amazement...colors...colors...and more colors were evident. They saw roosters with  their beautiful colored feathers, the vivid green grass and the wild flowers. It was so beautiful. De Colores is the phrase with the special meaning...Sanctifying grace..."being so very close to God."

 Another symbol we share is the beautiful prism...catching, reflecting colors, symbols of the seven fruits of the Holy Spirit. There are walks very similar in other faiths besides the Catholic faith. If you'd like to learn more just google the word Cursillo. Maybe you could make a '3 day walk' too.

Do you like my real rooster? I couldn't believe I found him and some hens down the road last night. Must be their resting spot. Last week I saw them on my way to Church. My husband said they would like me to bring them by some bread. I'll do that today...he's right.

 Thank you for stopping by! I look forward to visiting you and your roosters too!

 De Colores!

Patty in Oz

God sent a fleet of five angels to help...on the coldest winter day!

 A story of inspiration to share...

A couple of years ago one of my brothers was in the middle of recuperating from shoulder surgery and needed to move to a better location very soon because his lease was almost up. Unfortunately, he just didn't have any friends available to help during this time. To make matters much worse, it had to be the coldest, iciest weekends in Kansas ever! I tried to stay positive and I trusted God.

I promised my brother I would help move and then I began praying. I asked God to help us 'make this move safely' and He sure did! God sent a fleet of angels...five to be exact to help us. It was the first call I placed, one week in advance and the answer on the other end of the phone line was "yes". I'm never surprised by the nature of my good friends to be there when I really need them. I realize how VERY blessed that they would be right there, so ready to help me, help my family member who was struggling. They are so good! I felt it necessary to share that money was very tight and Kay said "We aren't doing it for the money Patty, we just want to help, that's what Christians do". God 'through the generosity of these faith filled friends and family members, made the move a reality. Oh, everyone one worked so hard and it was the coldest winter day ever! My friend Virginia's two handsome strong farm sons were amazing. They even brought a flat bed truck!

The best memory of that experience was gathering and praying before we got started that early Saturday. It was much harder work than I expected and we needed to work together very carefully. We gathered holding hands in his little kitchen that morning asking God to keep us safe and and that no-one would be hurt. Praise God! No-one fell on the very slick sidewalk and driveways.

I will ALWAYS be both amazed and inspired by the the kindness that was given to help my brother. He was a stranger to a few of them and that didn't prevent them from helping out. As we finished and that last box was stacked, I remember my brother tipping everyone with a $50 bill (except me, his sis..and that was quite alright.) The move took most of the day and we were exhausted. My brother was VERY appreciative. He bought lunches, gas, shared a large thermos of hot coffee and said 'thank you' countless times. He also donated quite a HUGE bunch of good usable items to a street ministry to help someone else.

What wonderful friends, God's fleet of five angels who came to help...on the coldest winter day! I do remember the smiles...they were both warm and sincere.

Blessed beyond the imagination.

Patty

(In the photo are the gloves and head band that I wore that day. Can you see, I tried to arrange the gloves like 'praying hands'? A lot of prayers went up that day!)

A Favorite Scripture ~ Psalm 37:4

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

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This scripture is one of my long time favorites! When I delight in the Lord, I believe He truly delights in my delighting in Him. That makes my heart smile. It's a win win situation. The Lord is faithful to give us His best, because we belong to Him.

Looking forward to hearing your favorite Scripture too. Thank you.

 

A note of thanks from Patty Cake

The beautiful card for Father is sitting on my desk and is being snail mailed today.

It's a note of thanks from Patty Cake to a special priest who has given myself (and many others I'm sure) full cups of inspiration through his Homilies presented at St. Mary's Cathedral over many years.

Sometimes good intentions aren't really worth anything. I intended to mail Father's card with a note weeks ago. The good news is ..I'm back on track! I want to be realistic...I need to remind myself to carve time, create time for the important notes I wish to send. After all, that's what 'Patty Cake' is all about. Don't you think there is something unique about 'snail mail' in this electronic age we live in? Do you like to receive a little note or little gift from a friend, somewhere in all the advertisements and junk mail? It's kinda like a treasure hunt everyday going through the mail for me.

This Father has the most gentle and most kind spirit. His words at Mass have been extremely motivating...because he really wants all of us to get to Heaven in the end. He may not always say what I want to hear but he says what I really need to hear. It must be both a wonderful and sometimes tough mission/job that he and other Church ministers have. I have been truly blessed, to witness an imitation of Christ, through his sharing of the Word. It doesn't get better than that.

Have a blessed week.

My favorite place of inspiration is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

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Cindy from 'I Owe It All To Him' invited us blogger friends to share our favorite inspirational places...

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita is my favorite place of inspiration. It is one of many, I love the oceans, however...the Cathedral is #1! For many years I have been celebrating Mass here in this Church, almost daily. I have been so blessed because the Cathedral has been in walking distance from work places for over 12 years and I haven't take fact for granted. I tell friends, this 'spiritual food' is what I need most on my lunch break'...I think others may feel similar. Sometimes friends asked if they could join me and of course I said yes. Some places just grow on you...some times we grow in places.

I have quite a few of interesting memories of just getting there...little old me....tracking down the sidewalk on the coldest winter days over the many years...the snow sometimes being so deep that cars were barely able to maneuver. There were those cold winter days, the freezing wind would steal my breath and the streets were completely iced over with thick sheets of glass. Wet soggy days when the street was so full of water it looked like a river! Then my favorite days...perfectly cool autumn days then the gentle wind blows the old ash tree yellow leaves all about...spilling them up and down the steps and they look like gold!

I have many great memories of also being in this very special place with my husband renewing our Wedding vows (a special yearly event that our wonderful Bishop officiates), the lovely Christmas eve I met one of my daughters for Mass. Other memories of being there with family and running into old friends or being a guest at a wedding or other special celebration. One of my very favorite times is after daily Mass, if I can stay a little while longer. When the altar candles are extinguished, the main lights turned off and last person has departed...there's one ceiling light that pops on overhead...and the Cathedral becomes so quiet you can hear a pin drop. It's then I have my best friend all to myself...I sit and ponder His love.

Oh yes, you may want to know if there are bells St. Mary's? Yes, and I love hearing them ring to remind me I better hurry, something good is going to happen.

Looking forward to seeing a photo and hearing all about your favorite place of inspiration too.