Marks on Paper

You know how i do the photography thing….and the prayer card thing….and the scrapbook papers thing….and the Bubblegum for the Brain thing? Well i also do the marks on paper thing. I don’t know if there is anything quite as revealing about a person as the written word, especially in the writings of poetry. I lay my soul bare to you.

A love Lost

Would that I could send back the hands of time

And in doing so repair this wretched heart

For it aches with love for one who was once mine

Until death’s veil did fall and we did part.

Where art thou love and doth thou love me still

Or has thy love for me sought to depart,

On love we were once drunk and had our fill

When love’s angel with his arrow pierced our hearts.

I pray that some day we shall meet again

And that throughout the sands of time I’ll find

Your love for me has faithfully remained

Then once again our hearts shall be entwined.

Copyright of ukok

You can hear me recite this poem HERE

Prayer Cards for Preemies

Sharon left this request in the combox:

“Do you have a prayer card for preemies. My grandson, Jack Dayton Fremling, was born at 1#14oz last week at 26 1/2 weeks. He is holding his own – I would love to find some prayers specifically for him.

Please pray for him.”

I’m sure readers will join me in praying for little Jack!

Also, Sharon’s comment prompted me to create some new prayer cards, this time for premature babies. You wouldn’t believe it to look at me but i was a premature baby myself and so was my Dad (you wouldn’t think it to look at him either! LOL!)

Here’s the new prayer card i created that has on it a prayer i wrote especially for premature babies, which i entitled, rather unsurprisingly…. ‘ A Prayer for Preemies’.

Click the image below to go to my prayer card page and download this prayer card sheet.

Daily Meditation Medication

“If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.”
Lord Chesterfield

Simple Living – Sensational Chicken Stock

I have always made a lot of homemade soups and casseroles for my family and as you know, one of the key ingredients for these is stock. Until recently i would buy stock/stock cubes, but a few months ago i decided to begin making stock from scratch using a chicken carcass. It tastes so much better too!

I either use an oven roasted Chicken carcass or i cut the breasts, thighs and legs from an uncooked chicken and then bag them up for the freezer.   If i do the latter, i usually leave a fair bit of chicken attached to the chicken frame. I do this for a couple of reasons, firstly because I am not very good at getting every bit of raw chicken from the frame and secondly, it adds a great flavour to the stock and oh thirdly, it provides my dog with a enough chicken to feed her for a couple of days. (the beauty of having a small dog).

I’m sure i’m preaching to the choir here as so many of you probably do this already, but for the uninitiated in chicken stock creativity, here’s how i make mine…

1. Place chicken carcass in a large pan.

2.  Add a variety of herbs, salt, garlic and an onion.

3. Cover with a kettle full of hot water – i used enough water to make 2 litres of stock – place a lid on the saucepan and simmer on low for about 1.5 hours (or longer  if you want it even more flavourful).

4. When it is done it should be a lovely golden colour.

5. Separate the chicken carcass/ meat from the liquid by draining the liquid through a colander or sieve.

6. How i freeze chicken stock is to take my empty yoghurt pot. Mine holds 1 litre.

7. Insert a strong plastic freezer bag into it.

8.  Pour the liquid into the bag that is inside the container.

9.  When cool tie the bag and place the whole container in the freezer.

10. When Frozen simply slide the bag of frozen stock out of the container and it is then ready to be defrosted as a base for soup, risotto, casserole etc, at a time of my choosing.

Daily Meditation Medication

On the mistakes we all make…

Acknowledge that you failed, draw your lessons from it, and use it to your advantage to make sure it never happens again. – Michael Johnson

The ‘I’ve come to realise’ meme’

Many thanks to Val who tagged me for this meme on Facebook. I prefer to respond to it here as i don’t spend too much time on FB really, so here goes…

RULES: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note completing the 36 “I’ve come to realize” statements. At the end, choose the friends you want to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want tot know more about you or I knew you way back when and am interested in what life has taught you!

1. I’ve come to realize that my chest-size. . . is the reason that i weigh at least 2 stone heavier than i otherwise would if i were flat chested.

2. I’ve come to realize that my job. . .  is a vocation.

3. I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving. . . I need to make a conscious effort to not allow myself to become so easily irritated by other drivers…even when they are only 5 inches away from the rear of my car and peeping their horn at me for driving at the national speed limit.

4. I’ve come to realize that I need. . .to place my trust in God in all things. all things. all things. There are no areas of my life i can not entrust to His careand as much as i tend to try to control my life, God does a far better job of it than i do. No doubt about that at all.

5. I’ve come that realize that I have lost. . .my way a bit in the past and that i love The Good Shepherd who never fails to come and save me from myself, from danger, from separating myself from Him forever. I have confidence in knowing that though i still go astray, still lose my way, He is always there for me, just waiting for me to come back to Him. Never chastising, always loving me. When i think i am unloveable He shows me that He loves me just as i am.

6. I’ve come to realize that I hate it when. . .i am wrong and i will almost always try to prove (to myself or to others)  that i am right even when i know that i am wrong. Graceful submission is something that i need to work on.

7. I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk. . .it will be on P.G Tips and i might have to sue the company, because i don’t drink alcohol at all. I’ve fortunately never been addicted to alcohol, but i can’t drink it with the medication i take. And when i did enjoy a drink i would always have a crippling migraine the day(s) afterwards. It’s just not worth it. And i happen to like pain medication.

8. I’ve come to realize that money. .. is something i try not to think about at all. Sometimes i have to think about it, but for the most part i try to accept where i am financially and just not focus on my financial situation. Our immediate needs are met. That is the most important thing.

9. I’ve come to realize that certain people. . .may not like me…and that actually i’m okay with that. I don’t have to like everyone in the world and everyone in the world doesn’t have to like me.

10. I’ve come to realize that I’ll always. . .be a sentimental romanticist who is passionate, loving, empathetic, emotional and yes…a little neurotic. I’ll always be tactile and touchy feely. If I have offended or upset people and i always try to make my peace with people with them. Of course, it’s up to the individual whether they allow me to make my peace with them. That’s not my problem.

11. I’ve come to realize that my sibling(s). . .is very different from me, in almost every way. But i love him anyway ;-)

12. I’ve come to realize that my mum….is what every mother should be. Non- judgemental, compassionate, supportive, selfless, giving, affectionate, loving, wise, generous, friendly and  puts people at their ease and is very welcoming…she is also  respectful, hard working, responsible, loyal and  beautiful…both on the inside and the outside. She is also a highly skilled homemaker and she has a very sharp brain and a head for maths.

13. I’ve come to realize that my cell phone. . .is a lesson in patience. I’ve just been given a handmedown Motorola Red SLVR (my old mobile phone was an embarrassment to take out in public) and i am still figuring out how to use it. Yesterday both my children were sent home from school because they were unwell and i didn’t get any of the calls on my cell/mobile phone…..or rather i did, but for some reason the phone didn’t vibrate or ring…when i had it set up to do both. I’ll figure it out. Some day.

14. I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning. . .i was terribly overtired and felt like i hadn’t slept a wink. This ‘heatwave’  here in England is playing havoc with my sleeping patterns. There is just no way to get cool at night, even with the window open and no duvet or anything over me. Thankfully, this morning it is raining a little. I hope it will cool the weather down!

15. I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep. . .i should probably not have watched the movie, ‘Dracula’.

16. I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking. . . this meme is very long.

17. I’ve come to realize that my dad. . .has a wicked sense of humour, is solid, dependable, generous, responsible, supportive, tolerant, creative, very skilled at doing things around the home, friendly, intelligent, he is pretty much the strong silent type who only talks when he has something to say and doesn’t waffle on about a load of nothing, except when he is winding me or Mum or the kids up! He’s an interesting person. He doesn’t talk much about himself or his life experiences, he feels most comfortable with the focus on other people. He clowns around a lot and he has been like a father to my Daughter especially, who, as many of you know, has grown up without her Father’s presence in her life. I am very thankful that my Daughter and my Dad have such a wonderful relationship.

18. I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook. . .it is pretty much something i can live without. I prefer to chat via email, msn etc these days. I have the new FB layout to thank for that. I don’t like it. So thanks Facebook!

19. I’ve come to realize that today. . .may be the last day of my life. No one knows how long they have. I frequently ask myself if i am being a good steward of my time etc?  All too often my answer is ‘I don’t think so’. But i feel like i am gettting ‘there’ in appreciating my life and in utilising my time. Especially the time when i am not in pain. It’s always easier to appreciate than the times when pain dominates my whole day/night.

20. I’ve come to realize that tonight. . .I will probably stay up too late.  Maybe i will watch Psycho with my Daughter, if it arrives today. There is 85% off it at Play.com at the moment! Yay it just arrived!!!

21. I’ve come to realize that tomorrow. . .i will be able to press the snooze button as many times as i like and that is okay with me.

22. I’ve come to realize that I really want to. . . just get back my joy of being alive.  Pain, both physical and emotional has numbed that sense of exhuberance for life that i once had. I want it back. There are glimpses of joy….that’s okay for now.

23. I’ve come to realize that the person mostly likely to repost this is. . .Owen. NOT!!!

24. I’ve come to realize that life. . .is infinately more intrigueing than we ever think it will be. And that it almost never works out the way we think it should be or hope it will be. Sometimes, it is even better than we ever dreamed it could be. Sometimes it think we live our purgatory on earth.  For many of us there is a balance of both extremes. Thankfully.

25. I’ve come to realize that this weekend. . .will be a good weekend for my daughter, she is having her third driving lesson tomorrow and she is really enjoying learning to drive.

26. I’ve realized the best music to listen to when I am upset. . .is no music at all. I am long done with the days of listening to music that makes me feel even worse about myself or the situation i might find myself in. Instead i might sing a song to the Lord, one i have written or one i make up on the spur of the moment….alternatively i sing a Hail Mary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

27. I’ve come to realize that my friends. . .are a diverse bunch of people and i like it. Some i will never meet because they live all over the globe, but that doesn’t make them less my friends than other friends i meet with personally. Some people think they have a lot of friends, but numbers don’t impress me. I have one or two great ‘real time’ friends i could go to in a time of need, who i could trust to keep confidences and not spread them around etc. That’s okay with me.

28. I’ve come to realize that this year. . .is half way through already and i’m not sure i’ve achieved anything much that i hoped i would. Though i’m tapping into my creative gene and i am enjoying that a great deal. I hope it pleases others too.

29. I’ve come to realize that me exes. . .whoa….this question came out of  nowhere!  Lets just say that i am divorced and annulled and i’m grateful to God that as far as He and His Church are concerned, i have never yet been married. For many years now I have made a promise to God about not creating any more ‘exes’, only he knows the details of that promise and i won’t divulge them here. It ain’t about getting me to a nunnery, more about entrusting that area of my personal life to the care of the Lord. What will be will be.

30. I’ve come to realize that maybe I should. . .become more healthy/develop a more structured pattern of prayer in my daily life/cultivate patience/spend less time on the computer/worship at more weekday Masses/confess more regularly etc

31. I’ve come to realize that I love. . .my children more than anything in the world and it scares me sometimes how much i love them. I sometimes think of Abraham and the test he had to go through with his son and i wonder….if it was me, would i have been obedient to God? I think the intensity of my love for them has a lot to do with raising them alone for the past oooh almost 11 years. I’ve also come to realise that i love God more than i thought i did. It constantly surprises me just how much i do love God. And i am a romanticist. I love LOVE!

32. I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand. . .very much about anything really. In fact the older i get, the less i seem to know.

33. I’ve come to realize my past. . .is not who i am now. I strive to not allow my past to dictate how i live my future. I sometimes literally have to say to myself  ‘that is not who i am anymore, i am a new creation!’ . And occassionally i actually believe it.

34. I’ve come to realize that parties. . .aren’t my cup of tea…unless they are tea parties, in which case they most definately are.

35. I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified. . .of  my children becoming seriously ill – or worse, i’m terrified of confined spaces, of spiders, of getting hurt, of hurting others, of losing my internet connection, of losing my creativity, of so many things. Big and small.

36. I’ve come to realize that my life. . .is for LIVING and not merely EXISTING! When i was young i wanted to ‘be somebody’. I thought i had to have attained my dreams to ‘be somebody’. Time has taught me, God has taught me, that i have all along ‘been somebody’.  As long as i try to be the best person i can be, the best mother, daughter etc. That is enough. That counts for something.

OKAY. Now condsider yourself tagged if you want to be.

Daily Meditation Medication

Becoming Fathers and Mothers

What are we going to do when we get home? When the two sons of the parable of the prodigal son both have returned to their father, what then? The answer is simple: they have to become fathers themselves. Sons have to become fathers; daughters have to become mothers. Being children of God involves growing up and becoming like God. Jesus doesn’t hesitate to say this: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate.” (See Matthew 5:48 and Luke 6:36). How? By welcoming home our lost brothers and sisters in the way our Father welcomed us home.

Bubblegum for the Brain 10. The Hanged Man

I think the text on this little offering says it all…don’t you agree ladies?

copyright of ukok

Men. Let this be a warning to you. We love you. Except when you give us cause not to!

Daily Meditation Medication

Pride alienates us from heaven;
humility leads to heaven

~ St. Bridget of Sweden, 14th century

Giant Blue & White Flower Scrapbook papers

More Free papers… 5 of them…on the enormous flower theme… see them/download them over on the free papers page…

These are the things that make me happy…note to prospective future husband

It doesn’t happen very often, but every once in a while all my meandering around charity shops really pays off. Recently I managed to purchase this staggering (and oh weren’t we just…poor daughter carried most of it!) collection from  Churchill’s discontinued Mille Fleur range.

Since the cheapest price i can find is £2.50 for 1 teacup and saucer on ebay….i think i did rather well getting the whole lot…including a generously sized teapot….for £19.50.

I haven’t had a matching dinner service for over a decade.

I’m chuffed to bits with it! And doubly happy that i got something nice out of contributing towards the Help the Aged Charity.

These are the things that make me happy.

Note to prospective future husband : I am a cheap date (but not a cheap date, if you get what i mean)…take me around Oxfam and Help the Aged for a few hours and i’m a happy happy happy bunny.

Daily Meditation Medication

A Lifelong Journey

Going home is a lifelong journey. There are always parts of ourselves that wander off in dissipation or get stuck in resentment. Before we know it we are lost in lustful fantasies or angry ruminations. Our night dreams and daydreams often remind us of our lostness.

Spiritual disciplines such as praying, fasting and caring are ways to help us return home. As we walk home we often realise how long the way is. But let us not be discouraged. Jesus walks with us and speaks to us on the road. When we listen carefully we discover that we are already home while on the way

by Henri Nouwen

Bubblegum for the Brain 9. Those Fat Days

Dunno about you, but everyday is a fat day for me…if you are like me, then you’ll probably see the funny side of this…

…you might want to right click it to open it in another window if you want to read the text on this..for some reason this templates right sidebar appears over any images i post which are anything larger than ’small’.

copyright of ukok

Daily Meditation Medication

A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve ~ Joseph Joubert, French philosopher

True Heart Award

Many thanks to the sweet and generous Cathy awarded me the ‘True Heart Award’. I happen to think that this is one of the nicest awards going.  Here’s the blurb about it:

“Those who receive this award are of the sweetest nature. They are kind, friendly, funny, loving, eager to share their love for Jesus with others, and brave in their efforts to reflect Him to this darkened world. They are the kind of folks you’re blessed to know, even if it’s only in the bloggy-sphere.”

I award this to the following beautiful souls:

Right back at Cathy – because she is what this award is all about.

Owen

Esther

John

Rosemary

Elena

Adrienne

Barbara

Sarah

Easter

Mimi

Renee

Alexa

Rita

Gabrielle

Phil

Shell

Barb

Therese

The March Hare

Jean

Suz

Daily Meditation Medication.

He must increase. I must decrease.

(Jn 3.30)

A Catholic ‘take’ on Coke and McDonalds

Coke

and  McDonalds

Bubblegum for the Brain 8. Computer Says ‘No!’

I think anyone with a computer/laptop knows precisely how frustrating this feels….

and oh yes, i’m still having fun with these Bubblegum for the Brain posts!

Fancy something yummy for dinner?

Fancy something tasty for tea? Why not try the wonderful range of food below…

I’m not sure what makes me cringe more, the grime under this dude’s nails or the cookie…

Anyone for bug canapes?

Don’t tell the kids about this one or they might be a bit worried Santa won’t be doing the rounds come December 25th…Here’s the perfect food for if you like your food to have a little bite….

Waste not, want not…

Next time you make a packed lunch for  yourself or members of your family, just remember, variety is the spice of life…

Kids home from school and asking ‘what’s for dinner?’ Just show them this healthy bug casserole, they’ll soon stop pestering you to get dinner on the table…

Bubblegum for the Brain 7. Rapunzel and the handsome twerp

Daily Meditation Medication

Consecration Prayer to Mary

O Mary, Virgin most powerful and Mother of mercy, Queen of Heaven and Refuge of sinners, we consecrate ourselves to thine Immaculate Heart.

We consecrate to thee our very being and our whole life; all that we have, all that we love, all  that we are. To thee we give our bodies, our hearts and our souls; to thee we give our homes,  our families, our country.
We desire that all that is in us and around us may belong to thee,  and may share in the benefits of thy motherly benediction. And that this act of consecration  may be truly efficacious and lasting, we renew this day at thy feet the promises of our Baptism and our first Holy Communion.
We pledge ourselves to profess courageously and at all times  the truths of our holy Faith, and to live as befits Catholics who are duly submissive to all the  directions of the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him.
We pledge ourselves to keep  the commandments of God and His Church, in particular to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
We  likewise pledge ourselves to make the consoling practices of the Christian religion, and above all, Holy Communion, an integral part of our lives, in so far as we shall be able so to do.
Finally, we promise thee, O glorious Mother of God and loving Mother of men, to devote  ourselves whole-heartedly to the service of thy blessed cult, in order to hasten and assure,  through the sovereignty of thine Immaculate Heart, the coming of the kingdom of the Sacred  Heart of thine adorable Son, in our own hearts and in those of all men, in our country and in all  the world, as in heaven. so on earth.

Amen.

source

Free Downloadable Scrapbook and Card Making Papers – Girly Clothes

I love ‘em. Don’t you?

The ‘10 honest things about me’ meme

Sweet Therese gave me the ‘honest scrap’ award.

To keep this award, I must do the following:

1) Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
2) Share “ten honest things” about myself.
3) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.
4) Tell those 7 people that they’ve been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving it.

Here are the 10 honest things about me:

1) If i ever came into some money, i would somehow stare down my fear of flying and go on the journey of a lifetime travelling to various destinations around the world.

2) It is hard for someone to get on the wrong side of me. I put up with a lot of crud before finally pulling the cord on friendships/relationships. But once it’s done, there is no going back for me. I don’t hold grudges and i do forgive…I just don’t forget.

3)I feel guilty about buying things for me. Maybe it’s because somewhere deep down inside me, i don’t think i am worth it.

4) My online interaction with folk might belie this truth, but the fact is i’m pretty underconfident and introverted…in fact, the chances are that around other people in real time i will almost always open my mouth and blurt our something wierd and spend the rest of the time i am around them, wishing i had kept my mouth shut.

5) For some reason I seem to attract wierd/strange/mentally challengedorunstablepsychopeople  into my life. I can’t say why that is.

6) I am as neurotic in my ‘blogging life’ as i am in real life. It bothers me, somewhat.

7) These are some of the things that make me happy: Clean sheets on the bed. The smell of a new book or magazine. Honesty. The smell of line dried laundry. My children. My dog.  Mountains. Horses. God. The smell of fresh cut grass. Holidays. Feeling inspired. Inspiring others. Expressing affecion. Art.  Being understood. Understanding others. Memories. My DSLR. A new pack of post-its. Pink nail polish. My new fineline 80% recycled pen. Sleeping in. Priests and Religious. Music. Food. Internet access. Mass. Blogging. Technology. Friendships. Beaches. Forests. Driving my car. God’s Creation. Confession. Movies.  Heart warming stories. Small children. Series. Pain medication. Sunshine. Icons. Pink things. Red things. Rome. My pantry. My laptop. Being creative. Trees. Being alone. Not being alone. A nice cup of tea. Kindness. overcoming sin. Holding babies. Being near the sea. Books. Being around like-minded people. Adoration….

8) I laugh a lot ….and i laugh at inapropriate times. I dread attending funerals for fear of hysteria getting  a hold of me. Seriously.

9) I’m my worst critic. No one can make me feel worse than i do about myself.

10) If i could raise my kids all over again there are a lot of things i would have done differently.

Now for 7 blogs to pass this onto: Well here’s where i break the rules. Just pick up this meme if you want to do it, and let me know in the combox :-)

Daily Meditation Medication

Stewardship Prayer

Almighty and ever-faithful Lord,
gratefully acknowledging Your mercy
and humbly admitting our need,
we pledge our trust in You and each other.

Filled with desire,
we respond to Your call for discipleship
by shaping our lives in imitation of Christ.
We profess that the call requires us
to be stewards of Your gifts.
As stewards, we receive Your gifts gratefully,
cherish and tend them in a responsible manner,
share them in practice and love with others,
and return them with increase to the Lord.

We pledge to our ongoing formation as stewards
and our responsibility to call others to that same endeavor.
Almighty and ever-faithful God,
it is our fervent hope and prayer
that You who have begun this good work in us
will bring it to fulfillment in Jesus Christ,
our Lord. Amen

Source

Free Prayer Cards. The Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions for July 2009

My friends, here are the July prayer cards I have created with the Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions on them. Click on the image below to go to my ‘Free Prayer Cards’ page where you can download these and then print them off and distribute them. Please also encourage your friends and family to do the same. Leave these in your paish (with the permission of the parish priest), in phone booths, in cafe’s, on park benches….and also consider doing the same with the pro-life prayer cards!