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Blogging A to Z: “I”-n memory of … good friends!
Bestie Sandy (left) and Becky, having a toast to something wonderful, at St. Mary’s Supper Club. A good friend of mine passed away from lymphoma in April 25, 2013, and I miss her. There are those people that you meet and you feel “right at home” with. Becky was that type of person. She had a wonderful sense of humor and many times we’d laugh until we were both in tears. She loved animals and rescuing them, she liked telling people’s stories (she was a journalist) and she had a big heart. She’s a big reason that I have one of the loves of my life, my dog Hershey. And,…
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Blogging A to Z: Eco versus Ego
I work for a Catholic organization that has as one of its ministries White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. It’s goal is to help educate people to walk more softly on Earth by learning about the benefits of buying local foods, supporting ecological justice, organic agriculture and fiber arts. No, this isn’t a commercial for that ministry, but it is how I discovered the graphic to the left. I’ve been a nature nut since I was a child. I love science and because I think God is too big to be put into a box, and limited to only what I can understand, I don’t think that science and spirituality are…
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Blogging A to Z: D-ovekeepers
Photo credit: CBS 2015 As an Easter treat, I wanted to watch CBS’ new two-night mini-series, the Dovekeepers, in one sitting this weekend. It was viewable “on demand” so I could watch it in its entirety. And, my husband was napping (too much romance for his taste)! Executive Product Roma Downey and her husband, Mark Burnett, bought the rights to New York Times best-selling author Alice Hoffman’s book, after traveling to Israel and visiting Masada. The female lead is played by Cote de Pablo, from NCIS fame, which caught my attention in the previews. Dovekeepers tells the story of the Roman siege on 1,000 Jews who were hiding out on the…
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Blogging A to Z: April showers
Málaga airport by Bert Kaufmann, Creative Commons license. Flickr. “Caution, moving walkway is nearing its end.” April is a time to look forward. Sunshine stretches into longer days. Crocus and daffodils sprout and remind us that winter, as the moving walkway announcement at the airport warns, “is nearing its end.” I’m thinking about what flowers I’d like to plant, what festivals I’m looking forward to, and what photography possibilities await me. The birds are singing and the intermittent rain we receive is painting the grass green. Things are looking up! And, then I find out that in two and a half weeks, I am having knee replacement surgery. Whaaaat? I…
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Winter preparations for Christmas
I listen to WGBL on my way to work and the day after Thanksgiving, they begin playing Christmas music. Recently I heard a song by Matt Brouwer and I had to call in and ask for the name because it struck a chord with me – it was “Better Days.” Here’s a sample of the lyrics: “And you ask me what I want this year And I try to make this kind and clear Just a chance that maybe We’ll find better days ‘Cause I don’t need boxes wrapped in string And designer love and empty things Just a chance that maybe We’ll find better days Refrain: So take these…
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Very thankful
It’s Thanksgiving day and Joe and I arrived safely back home among snow flurries and unexpectedly icy roads, after enjoying a delicious dinner made by my sister-in-law, Amy, in Indianapolis. We had all the familiar foods that warm our tummies and remind us of gatherings past: home-made dressing, melt-in-your mouth turkey, sweet corn casserole, green bean casserole, two sweet potato casseroles, cranberry sauce, other delicious carbs and of course yummy pumpkin, peanut butter and apple caramel pies. My nephews were present with their sweet wives and children. My two great nephews seem so grown up (the oldest is three and a half) and a great niece is expected mid-December. And,…
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St. Francis
I’ve always loved animals. When I was young, we had turtles, a Welsh Corgi and my parents raised and showed English Springer Spaniels. Today, my husband and I have one dog, Hershey (although he prefers to think of himself as a person), and four cats (three are rescues). I shared this love of animals with a good friend of mine, Becky, who passed away last year from lymphoma. She was with me when I spied Hershey as a puppy and was supportive of Joe and me adopting him. Did you know that St. Francis of Assisi, who lived from 1182-1126, felt he could communicate with animals and that he was…
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Quitters never prosper…
© 2014 by Diane Weidenbenner Okay. Officially the saying is “Cheaters never prosper.” But, since I am going for encouragement with this photo and short blog, I’ve changed it up a bit. For any of you out there that are having an especially trying time – you’ve lost a friend to cancer, or you’ve lost your job, or you just need to know that God is real and available, and unconditional in His love … this bridge is for you! It is to remind us that there is always another way, another opening, another opportunity right around the bend. There is always a different perspective, or a lesson to learn…
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Newport Beach – a gift from a loving God
© 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner There is something magical about the beach. I never gave it much thought until two of my good college friends from California showed me pictures of the beach at sunset. What a spectacular site. Just as I cherished the beautiful, lush mountains from Colorado, they had the same fond memories of spending time at the beach. I have since been to several beaches: those in California, Florida and Mexico. One of my favorite places to visit is Newport Beach, near Los Angeles, California. © 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner The evening tide comes in to meet the sand as if on schedule and it leaves a…
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“B”eaches are music to my ears
Seal Beach © 2014 by Diane Weidenbenner Beaches are an incredible gift of nature. There is nothing like them in the world. The sound of the waves, the horizon as backdrop to the ocean that spills onto the beach. The sound of the waves is so calming and centering. Each year I attend a trade show for work in Los Angeles. For the past two years, after the hustle and bustle of three long days greeting people at our booth, I’ve slipped down to the beach to unwind. I enjoy talking to hundreds of people (out of the 28,000 attendees) about the organization that I represent. While it’s high-energy work,…
