GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE

God Bless Us, Every One

"What a comfort it is this way of love! You may stumble on it, you may fail to correspond with grace given, but always love knows how to make the best of everything; whatever offends our Lord is burnt up in its fire, and nothing is left but a humble, absorbing peace deep down in the heart" - (Story of a Soul, Ms. A., Knox translation). 

"oh look we have created enchantment"  aka Teacup Tuesday invites us to make little vignettes showing off our teacups.  well, although i am a hoarder of pretty things and a peddler by chosen profession, i only have a very few teacups so had to actually buy this mug at kmart while i was shopping for wrapping tape for my sold packages.  teacups have become collector's items and some are quite pricey so i will have to get very creative in the future to continue our teaparty soirees.  thank goodness this set was very affordable as in "on sale" in the country living aisle.  i was ecstatic, i would be able to post again after a skipped week.  the towel was a special farewell gift from my friend maria cecilia who has the most divine blog and the enamel sign i purchased a few months ago while on a trip to buenos aires' san telmo street fair.  note that it says cafe-bar so you know in this house there is tea time and cocktail time, two spectrums of enjoyment.
 
what a better moment than a calm quiet break to give my daily thanks, (the miners in chile are soon to see the light of day again, emotional sniffing as i write this), to ask for those i love, to put myself into HIS hands.

...and the person i'd most like to have tea with today jamie lee curtis=smart,beautiful,funny,sexy, sensual, profound,and CREATIVE!  she writes children's books which have become national bestsellers, this is what i call a complete woman. did you hear her goodbye speech when her father tony curtis passed away?  right on!

i begin today with an altar. 

after reading ONE WILD SWAN  's comments on my blog yesterday, i was humbled when i stumbled upon one of her previous posts and related comments on how powerless we are unless we put ourelves in HIS presence constantly and submit to HIS WAYS for us.  having found a gorgeous print of the virgin and child on my last flea market adventure with cecilia and maria jose, i realized how easy it is to distance ourselves from GOD and how much more i, and all of us, need to pray. pray daily, even several times a day, and recall that powerlessness.  only in that way can we truly be humble and content with each and every gift HE gives us. it also made me remember the blessing before meals which really applies to all his bounty:

Bless us, O Lord! and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord, Amen.  Yes, HIS BOUNTY, not our selfish idealizations, reality as it is, frailty as it is, disappointment as a lesson that we are seeking in all the wrong places, insatiable beings.

yet on another note, and speaking of his bounties, we are alive and must maintain ourselves entertained.  so, we play.  what is is life but a great big playground?and how do i play?  i surround myself with beauty.  on that same outing with cecilia and jose i found these bounties which i promised yesterday to share with you.

laura ashley floral lighted garland ( i don't want to unpack it until i get home).

and a tiny salt shaker with roses ofcourse

and the old photograph to remind us that life has always been and ever will be

and ofcourse more of those vintage linens, i have a trunkfull already, sinner that i am

One of my favorite Prayers

I arise today, Through the strength of heaven: Light of the sun, radiance of the moon. Splendor of fire, speed of lightning, Swiftness of wind, depth of sea, Stability of earth and firmness of rock. I arise today, Through God's strength to pilot me: God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me. From the snares of devils, from temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, Afar and near, alone and in a multitude St. Patrick