For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey: Monday of Holy Week

Monday, March 29, 2010

Monday of Holy Week

Here is my brother and his family perhaps about 1975 or so. I am sure they came up to Devils Lake in their Ford Mustang. Lisa, the little girl standing will have a BIG birthday Friday!! I will not say how old she will be. Sorry about the quality of the picture but Dave and Marlys haven't changed a bit!!!
Kind of a quiet, normal day. I actually slept late. I missed the recycle guy. Got some woodworking in, saw Travis for a bit, John for a bit and Cynthia twice.
I returned from a walk about 7:45 and it still was quite light, very nice. Then about 9:00 I just took a short walk up to the corner and the moon is pretty tonight. I would say that today/tonight is about the first time a person can go for a walk in a light jacket or none at all. It still is hard to believe that spring has sprung but maybe it is here to stay. As we head towards April it is hard to believe that we had not even snow flurries in March where on the average we get 10 inches so a bit dry.
I am going to give suffering during Holy Week my best shot. I will try to limit calories to about half what I need. I hope I can last the week but self-discipline is not my strong point. However I really do want to become more spiritually tuned in this week and IF I can endure a bit of hunger that would help me be closer to what God wants and has for me. I am usually a positive person but I am afraid that I will fail, time will tell.
There was one time Gail and I fasted for a week. The results were really wonderful and the funny part was when we broke our fast we went up to the corner cafe for a salad and to this day that was the most wonderful salad I have ever eaten! Somehow God always seems closer when I am not so content or so full.
Not much more tonight. I hope that each person who reads this blog this week in some way, in some form can be drawn closer to our Lord and his tremendous love for each of us.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Carmen;
I will only make mention of the fact that there is a #4 involved in Lisa's Birthday this friday (don't want to totally give it away after all!) Seems when we deny ourselves we draw closer to God and our dependence upon our Lord. A whole week fast? wow! are you sure you're not Orthodox?
May your Holy Week bring you peace!
Steve; March 30, 2010 at 3:59 AM

Post a Comment

The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

I know of no one who fit this better than Gail

Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm.
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously:
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her;
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Well done good and faithful servant, your praise is much and your reward is to be with God forever.

Our Story

Our story begin in 1951, when Carmen was 4 and Gail was 5! We met as our parents were at a camera club. Fast forward--Carmen begin to attend grade school in town in 1957, the same school that Gail went to. Fast forward--We had our first date in the winter of 1964 in Gail's senior year of high school. Again--we were married June 1st of 1968. We moved to St. Paul in October of 1977 and lived at 2094 Niles Ave until Gail's death September 14 of 2009.
Gail first breast cancer was found in October of 2003. After surgery, chemo, radiation and infusions for a year she felt well and we lived life in our normal mode. Carmen retired in June of 2007 and shortly after that we quit doing the paper route as well. In the fall of 2007 we went on our dream vacation. We camped for 7 weeks in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and in the New England states. Sleeping in our truck and eating over an open fire we felt that we had experienced heaven. Then in January of 2008 we spent 3 weeks in Hawaii with friends and again had so much fun. In the fall of 2008 we did much work on the outside of the house and we were so excited to enter 2009 with big plans and dreams. In January Gail was diagnosed with new cancer. For the next 7 1/2 months we prayed, changed our life style, laughed and cried often. As the end of Gail's life drew near she was peaceful and family cared for her at home until she met Jesus. It was a journey that was wonderful, exciting, blessed, full of life and full of love but of course it was too short. Gail is so missed but I know she is in a better place so my journey must continue on without my true love.
I enter a new decade as the "I" that I never wanted to be but I have hope. Hope of things not experienced and hope that life will again, in 2010, become something that I look forward to each morning. My hope is based on our Lord who gives all, who is all and who gives love to all who believe. I enter this new decade with so many questions and so few answers but with faith that all will be well.

For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey

Monday, March 29, 2010

Monday of Holy Week

1 comment:

The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

Our Story

Followers

About Me