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“A”pril means new blooms on old wood
Lilacs bloom in early spring on “old wood.” © 2011 by Diane Weidenbenner. It’s spring, or so the calendar and Almanac say. Another change-of-season indicator is the fact that my husband, Joe, has gotten out the chain saw. He’s oiled it, sharpened the blade and tested it out on a few unsuspecting bushes. I fear for our plants’ lives this time of year. I felt it necessary to mention to him that the lilac bushes seem to have buds on them and that now would not be a good time to trim them. I remember hearing that they bloom on “old wood.” Specifically, “Flowering on old wood means that a…
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It’s all about the journey
A few weekends ago, I watched the 2007 movie, “P.S. I Love You,” again. At one point in the movie, Holly has an argument with her husband, Gerry. Holly is a “planner” and she and her husband aren’t where she envisioned them to be. Their apartment is too small, they can’t decide when to have a baby, etc. At one point Holly says something like, “I’m waiting for my life to begin…” Sometimes I feel like Holly. When I was younger, I’d say, “When I finish college, I’ll fill in the blank.” Then it was “I don’t want to buy a house until I get married.” Lately, I’ve been thinking,…
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When it rains, it pours…
Do you see the lightpole and the white marked parking spaces going into the water? This is Raccoon Lake, flooded from the heavy rains that we’ve been getting in Indiana. Now imagine all that water on our city streets! Growing up, I’d hear people say, “when it rains, it pours,” when a situation went from bad to worse. This year, we’ve received quite a bit of rain and I’ve begun to understand the phrase, literally and figuratively. When it rains in Indiana, it pours. Inundates you like someone pouring large pitchers of water on your windshield every few seconds. Soaks you even if you just have to go a few…
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“X”OXOXO
Sister Ann Casper (left) and Becky talking about the Youth Art Contest and Sister Ann’s remarks. She intiated the inaugral event and fostered its success each year. She loved the fact that youth came out to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for the Art Contest! Photo © Diane Weidenbenner I wish you had known my friend, Becky. She had a great sense of humor, was a wonderful writer and she never met a stranger. She passed away April 25 and will be missed by her friends and remaining family, puppy dogs and co-workers. Here’s what I learned from Becky: Hawthorn Park, in Terre Haute, Ind., is a wonderful place to take your dog…
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“V”ictory
Becky became “Aunt Becky” to Hershey, who my husband and I adopted, at a humane society fundraiser. She loved animals! Photo © Diane Weidenbenner Thursday, April 25, around 11:45 p.m., my good friend lost her battle against lymphoma. She was a very special person, as most people who knew her will tell you. She was a blessing and incredible friend to me both at work and in my personal life. Her name was Becky and she was a Christian. She’d been diagnosed with aggressive non-Hodgkins lymphoma in January (after successfully beating another type of lymphoma last year.) I am grateful that she is no longer sufffering, no longer in pain.…
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“F”aith that’s teeny, tiny and trusting
Have you ever said, “I wish I had more faith?” I have. In one of my recent readings, I was reminded that it’s not up to me to have lots of faith. Jesus talks about having faith the size of a mustard seed (Luke 17:6), which is fairly small. What’s more important – what I need to keep in mind – is the object of my faith. The all-knowing, always-present God is with me. He is the object of my faith and he’s the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yesterday I blogged about my experience getting into Journalism school. When I was younger, I had faith in God that couldn’t…
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Providence and roses
“As Providence would have it” is a phrase that’s common where I work. You see, I work for a group of Catholic nuns (they prefer the term women religious). I’ve always believed in the Providence of God although I didn’t use that terminology when I was younger. One of my favorite verses is “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I believe this with all my heart but some days it’s hard to hold on to, physically. I’m surrounded, daily, by strong, incredible women of faith but I…
