"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." Saint Francis De Sales

Friday, May 23, 2014

My Slow Takes about Matthew Kelly, a Book, Patty Loveless and M&Ms.

1. I have been reading Matthew Kelly’s book, “The Four Signs Of A Dynamic Catholic.” In one of his chapters he discusses the “prayerful giant.” This is the person in a family “who covers their family with prayer, anchoring the family in God’s grace.” He or she is the “cornerstone of prayer” that prays for their family, today as well as tomorrow. It brought to mind who that person was in my family and I remember my grandmother, Delvica Forgette. She was a beautiful caring woman whom I loved. They lived far from where we did, so I only saw her once a year. One summer my brother and I were able to spend a couple of weeks with her prior to my parents arriving. I remember that she always had her rosary with her and would make time to pray each day. Her faith was strong and her love was wrapped around all of us. She was our “prayerful giant.”  

2. On May 19, 2006, the movie “The Da Vinci Code” opened. Dee & I went to the movie and we enjoyed the storyline. It mixed a little bit of history with a lot of fiction, action and mystery. Apparently not everyone saw it as we did. One Sunday morning Msgr. Shreve assured our parish that, “it’s just a book.” 


3. Our son Stephen had oral surgery this week and is in recovery. Please add him to your prayers.

4. Patty Loveless is one of my favorite female country artist. This song is from her album, “When Fallen Angels Fly.” It won CMA’s album of the year in 1995. 


5. A second song from Patty Loveless. This one is from her album, “Long Stretch of Lonesome,” released in 1997.

6. The mulching is finished and the "Truck" has returned home. Stephen spent Tuesday working with me, and it looks beautiful. 
7. M&M’s are one of my favorite candies, so when I saw this M&M cake …. don’t even ask about the calories.




Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.

Friday, May 16, 2014

My Slow Takes about Ray Charles, VMI, the Truck and Marriage Encounter

1. Georgia on my Mind - Ray Charles - September 23, 1980 to June 10, 2004.


2. Ray Charles and Willie Nelson, “Seven Spanish Angels”


3. On May 15, 1864, 250 cadets, from Virginia Military Institute, fought in the battle of New Market. The VMI campus is in Lexington, Virginia and is a wonderful place to visit. Dee and I attended a wedding that was held in the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hall. The photos below are not of that wedding, but do show how beautiful the Hall is.



4. I borrowed a truck to get mulch for our yard. It is a 1999 Ford F-150 and it “purrs” as we travel down the road. It's painted a beautiful Irish Green and shines when it has been washed. There is a “guy” thing about trucks, but I digress. The weather this year put me off schedule, so I’m a month behind. The mulch we use has been in great demand, so I’m waiting for them to make more. Hopefully I’ll complete everything by this weekend.


5. This week’s episode of NCIS paid tribute to actor Ralph Waite. It was a heart warming episode which included wonderful flashbacks of Gibbs childhood. I especially enjoyed the selection of the song, “Keep Me in Your Heart For A While,” by Warren Zevon.


6. Prayers for my brother-in-Christ Roger. He is recovering from surgery on his shoulder. 
7. Last week Dee gave me an unusual anniversary present. It was a card attached to two “compositions” books. The books were from our Marriage Encounter weekend back in 1983. Reading them made me realize how blessed I am that God brought us together.

“God doesn’t make junk.”
“My relationship to my spouse parallels my relationship to God.”
“We continually marry each other by doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways.”
Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.


Friday, May 9, 2014

My Slow Takes about Tricia, The Queen's Rangers, 007 and Our Wedding Anniversary

1. Tricia wrote a beautiful thought provoking article this week. “Depression is a Taste of the Agony in the Garden.”  She shares what Jesus must have been feeling in the garden of Gethsemane. Please take the time to read it.

2. The Queens Rangers was probably the most famous Loyalist unit of the American Revolution. It was raised in 1776 by the Colonel Robert Rogers. It eventually came under the command of Major John Simcoe where it earned its reputation. The regiment fought at Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. It distinguished itself throughout the southern campaigns in 1780 and 1781. This is my favorite Loyalist unit. Figures are from Old Glory Miniatures.



3. May 8, 1963, Sean Connery stars in his first Bond movie, Dr. No. He made six more Bond films after this, each one a classic. My opinion is that Sean Connery was the best “007” of all the Bond characters. 


4. This is Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou,” written in 1961. Linda Ronstadt made the song more popular in 1977 with her album “Simple Dreams.”

Roy:


Linda:


5. My copy arrived!


6. Please pray for my brother-in-Christ, Dave. He is recovering from back surgery. 

7. Forty-three years ago, on May 8, God blessed us with our marriage.


Our sons and their wives are also celebrating wedding anniversaries; Eric and Lynne, Stephen and Christina, May 8, and Todd and Lauren May 20. Happy Anniversary to our family!




Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.

Friday, May 2, 2014

My Slow Takes About Jen's Book, Scots-Irish, Reba and "Nessie."

1. “Something Other Than God” has been released and Jen being “Jen” has a contest. Actually it’s a group of contests. Numbered 1 through 9, you select something to do and get entered to win a prize. So why am I writing this when most people who read my blog already know this? Just in case there someone who possibly missed the announcement. And yes, I did purchase a copy through Barnes & Noble


2. My Clan Turnbull Scottish ancestors, from my Mom’s family, were part of the “Scottish Border Clans” who were expelled to Ireland. They migrated from Ireland to the United States. Supposedly, the term, “y’all,” is a contraction of the Scots-Irish term “ye aw.” A term used when referring to a group of people.

That's me in the Turnbull Clan Tartan
3. Last August I wrote about my nephew, Matthew. He had decided to join the United States Navy and enter the nuclear program. I am proud to announce that he graduated from Navy boot camp as an E-3 Seaman. Semper Fortis.


4. Father Robert Barron completed a series of videos while in Rome. He was there for the canonizations of Pope John Paul ll and Pope John XXll. The last video in his series of five, "Two Radical, Converted Disciples" provides us with an important message about our spiritual lives.

5. Reba McEntire made a great video from the Everly Brother’s classic, “Cathy’s Clown. Bruce Boxleitner is the cowboy. My favorite from Reba.



6. On May 2, 1933 the Scottish newspaper, “Inverness Courier,” published a story about a local couple who sited what is now known as the “Loch Ness Monster.” The legend continues with various sightings and photographs. Read more about at the “Ultimate and Official Lock Ness Monster Site.” 


7. There is a similar lake monster that is suppose to be living in Lake Champlain. Named “Champ,” the monster has been sighted by many people and it’s legend continues. Some history on “Champ” is located on the Lake Champlain Region website.




Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.