Limitation

 “Prayer can truly change your life. For it turns your attention away from yourself and directs your mind and your heart toward the Lord. If we look only at ourselves, with our own limitations and sins, we quickly give way to sadness and discouragement. But if we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, then our hearts are filled with hope, our minds are washed n the light of truth, and we come to know the fullness of the Gospel with all is promise and life.” ~ Pope John Paul II

“Our own limitations” stood out to me. 

Limitations are good but too much of anything is not good.

Limitations can be twisted into making excuses or dwelling on the things we cannot do. 

I am guilty of doing both. 

We are our own limitations; not all, but most. 

I am my own limitation by choosing to think only about what is limited. 

We all have limitations. 

We all have moments of discouragement. 

It is in these moments that we turn our hearts to God and pray, 

that our hearts be filled with hope. 

The limitations then become an offering. 

A beautiful prayer. 

God's love has no limits. 

Painting by Erin K. McAtee 

S’mores Treat Recipe

I am trying something new with my blog...

My sister Nicole suggested that I try sharing a recipe with my blog followers! 

I am excited to try something different. 

I enjoy cooking and baking and learning new cooking skills; whether that be from my mom's recipe box or from volunteering with Prairie Mountain Nutrition. 

This was a great recipe to learn and a fun blog to create. 

When we lived in the Tri-cities, my Aunt Wendy made s’mores treats for the Fourth of July.

From that day on, the s’more treats were a family favorite! 

So here I am sharing my first recipe blog!  

The S'mores Treat Recipe 

Step by Step 

Spray Pam cooking Spray in large bowl

I used S’mores cereal for this recipe. One can also use Golden Grahams.

Pour 9 cups of cereal in large bowl.

Ingredients combined in saucepan for this recipe:

1 bag of milk chocolate chips

3/4 cups of Karo syrup

3 Tablespoons of butter.

Pour ingredients in kettle.

Heat until boiling. Remove from heat.

Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

Pour over cereal. 

Stir.

Mix 3 cups of marshmallows in bowl. 

Spray 9x13 pan

Pour and pack in pan.

Let the s’more treats sit for 1 hour.

Form s’more treat balls and place treats on a baking sheet. 

This I volunteered my mom to do because I dislike touching anything that is sticky. 

Parchment paper for less mess and stickiness! 

They are ready to eat! 

Here is the recipe for you to try! 

I made these for my brother and his teammates to enjoy on their bus ride to their game tomorrow. 

Warning: this is NOT gluten free. 

If you would like to try adapting the recipe here is a link to finding GF cereal: 

https://www.amazon.com/Cascadian-Farm-Organic-Cereal-Vanilla/dp/B07QJQ7SR2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JYI2KFNY5YYW&keywords=Cascadian+Farm+Gluten+Free+Organic+Honey+Vanilla+Crunch+cerea&qid=1673643872&sprefix=cascadian+farm+gluten+free+organic+honey+vanilla+crunch+cerea%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1&pldnSite=1

2022 Highlights

I thought I would share some of the highlights from 2022. 

Our trip to Disneyland in January was a fun way to start the year! 

In May, we went to the off Broadway musical, Hamilton in Spokane. It was an amazing performance! 

If you haven't seen the live Broadway performance of Hamilton, I highly recommend watching it! You can find it on Disney+! It is one of my top favorite musicals!     

Side note, Favorite movies from 2022: Fr. Stu, Top Gun, Elvis and the Mother Teresa documentary.  

My sweet friend asked me to be her confirmation sponsor. She chose the name, Blessed Chiara Luce, my favorite saint. I gave a testimony to the Confirmation class and their sponsors. I enjoyed my first year of helping lead Confirmation and I am helping again this year.

 Both Maddie and Nicole were home for the summer and we were all together for Sr. Jordan's home visit in June. We laughed and enjoyed our quality time together.   

We visited friends we hadn't seen in a long time. Yet, when we saw them, it felt like just yesterday! Those are the best friends you want to have.  

I looked forward to my weekly bible and book studies with my friends. 

Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius by Lisa Cotter was the best book I read this past year. 

The Chosen Study Guide was fun to do one-on-one with my dear friend. 

My 27th birthday party was awesome! The crazy turn out from family made me feel so loved! It was a lot of fun dancing and singing the night away! I still laugh at the thought of people mistaking the DJ lights for police or ambulance lights. 

The trip to McCall will always be remembered! I enjoyed the heated pools,  pretty snow, the lake, my massage and of course the great company! 

My retreat was everything I needed and more! 

On retreat I took to heart, "Jesus loves praise--and rewards us!" 

Praise you, Jesus! 

Thank you for the good and thank you for staying with me through the hard moments. 

Thank you, Jesus!

It has been a year of receiving God's goodness and grace. 

These are just a few of the highlights! 

My heart is full. 

Image by Moritz Knoringer  

Take Heart 2023

I recently shared two of Matt Maher's songs but here is one more! 

I've saved this song for last and you will hear why in the lyrics, 

For unto us is born the Savior of the world

Take heart, oh weary soul, take heart

For help is on its way

And Holy is His name

Happy New Year! 

Take Heart in 2023!  

As the new year begins, goals are made and dreams are dreamt.

This question is asked every new year, "What are your new year resolutions?" 

And every year I don't know how to answer that question. 

However, this year, I've decided that I want to be intentional with each day.

I also hope to blog more often and to try to attend daily Mass as often as I can. 

I find life not only easier but better when I live life one day at a time. 

Rejoicing and taking heart in the here and now. 

And right now, Baby Jesus is with us, in the stables of our hearts.  

Holy is His name! 

Gabriel's Message

December 25th is just four days away! 

In the hustle and bustle of "getting ready for Christmas" it is easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. 

Even though there is much to do before Christmas, I can take time to pause and pray.

Today advice was given from Dynamic Catholic Best Christmas Ever, to pray a Hail Mary before acting or speaking. 

Hail Mary 

Full of Grace

The Lord is with you

Blessed are you 

Among Women

Blessed is the fruit 

Of your womb, Jesus

Holy Mary,  Mother of God 

Pray for us sinners

Now and at the hour of our death 

Amen. 

The Angel Gabriel gave Mary this message. 

I want to share that same message with you today. 

Gloria! The Lord is with you!  

This is my new favorite song this Advent! 

Let there be Peace

Christmas is almost here!  

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent! 

The fourth candle symbolizes peace. 

I mentioned in my Retreat blog that I was given the gift of peace.

After my retreat I thought the gift of peace would run out. 

To my surprise it hasn't. 

I admit that life is not always peaceful. 

Especially this time of year... 

All the distractions that keep me from focusing on the real meaning of Christmas. 

So what do I mean by, "I was given the gift of peace"? 

I mean that I was given the gift to desire God's peace. 

I notice when I am not aware of God's peace.

And it is in those moments that I need His peace the most. 

On retreat the grace of peace filled my heart. 

His grace continues to fill my heart.

My prayer for you this last week of Advent is to let there be peace in your heart. 

Peace begins with you, me and a desire for God's grace. 

Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

Luke 2:14 

You and me, we are the favored. 

Blessed Retreat

I recently had an amazing experience of going on my first ever retreat with the Sisters of Life in Colorado! 

I don't know if I will be able to express the fullness of my heart's joy from this retreat in this blog, but I am going to try!  

The retreat began on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple.  

I thought this blog was fitting to share today on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. 

Our Blessed Mother was very present to me while I was on retreat. 

I have received so many graces from this retreat! 

I began the retreat by asking for the gift of peace.

The Lord not only gave me the gift of peace but also the gift of joy! 

Part of that joy was the gift of being with Sr. Jordan on retreat! 

Together we enjoyed walking by the beautiful lakes and admiring the mountains. 

Joy radiated from each of the sisters. Their joy was contagious!

I am grateful for the sisters and the outpouring of their love.

I loved beginning my day with Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass each morning.

Since my retreat I have had a deep desire for Jesus in the Eucharist. 

 I have chosen to wake up earlier, to attend Mass and receive Jesus as often as I can.   

"Jesus has a deeper and personal longing to have you for Himself. Let Him do it... Just put yourself in front of the tabernacle. Don't let anything disturb you. Hear your own name and "I Thirst." St. Mother Teresa 

"I Thirst" was the theme for this retreat. 

The quiet and stillness gave me the opportunity for prayer, meditation and journaling. 

One morning the Gospel was about the widow offering her two coins in the temple. 

The widow who offered her poverty reminded me of the Immaculate Conception. 

Mary was chosen and immaculately conceived. She is full of grace.

Like the widow, Mary held nothing back, she gave all she had to the Lord. 

I too can offer what I have. 

"Love until it hurts. Real love is always painful and hurts: then it is real and pure." St. Mother Teresa  

Mary's love is real and pure because of her Immaculate Conception. 

The Immaculate Conception makes room for the Savior of the World. 

One of the sisters shared that God loves it when we give Him praise and He loves to reward us! 

We can praise God by giving Him thanks! 

The reason I am sharing this song is because my sister Maddie sang this at Adoration one of the nights I was on retreat. 

My sister gave me her whole heart in song and with guitar. It was the absolute best! 

I will always remember her gift!  

Gratitude in all things. 

Mary is the best example of gratitude.

There is no one better than Mary who sings this prayer of thanks and praise. 

The Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. 

Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us!