Prayers for Colorado

 Photo source: Colorado Springs Gazette.

If you are a regular reader of my blog you know my children live in the beautiful state of Colorado, in the Denver area.  Many areas of Colorado have been besieged by wildfires of epic proportions this past month, most caused by lightning hitting extremely dry trees and brush. One of the latest fires of concern is in the foothill areas of Colorado Springs, the second largest city of Colorado, about an hour driving distance from Denver.  As you can see by the photo above, this raging fire is extensive, and out of control!

 Photo source: Colorado Springs Gazette

Tens of thousands of residents have had to flee their homes, and many neighborhoods are being destroyed by the flames.

Photo Source: Colorado Springs Gazette

The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs, and as you can see by the photo above of the Air Force Chapel surrounded by smoke wafting across the canyon, it may also be in danger if the fires are not quickly put under control.







If you watch the heartbreaking CBS video above (it begins with a brief commercial) you will see that one fleeing resident of Boulder County took only one possession--the American Flag that was his son's. His son lost his life in the military in Iraq.


There are more than eight large wildfires burning across the state, the latest in Boulder County, north of Denver, which was also caused by a lightening strike.  Record high temperatures above 100 degrees and extreme drought and high winds have been fueling all the fires and smoke, exhausting the thousands of firefighters on duty, and hindering the more than 100 airplanes and helicopters that are trying to dump water and fire retardant on the flames. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people and state of Colorado, for their safety, that a good long soaking rain will help quench these fires and prevent new ones  I am worried about my children and grandchildren, that they also may face the danger of fires in their area. Please keep them all in your prayers!

I am adding this post to Jenny Matlock's "Alphabe Thursday" weekly blog event -- the letter this week is "F"  Sadly the word fire more than qualifies. Thanks, Jenny! 

Thank you.

Wedding Day Bliss!

We gathered on a beautiful day in May under sunny skies, light breezes and spectacular views of Manhattan from our location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. On the right we saw the span of the Williamsburg Bridge, mid-town and the Empire State Building.....

...on the left we saw the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges and Lower Manhattan in the distance.

Straight ahead was the wedding arbor full of flowers and the chairs waiting for guests.

The wedding was about to begin and the string quartet began to play.

My handsome son escorted me to my seat.

My soon to be son-in-law Joseph's step mother and uncle entered, representing his parents who are sadly deceased.  We know they were with us in spirit that day!

...followed by my soon to be son-in-law and the minister.

Then my son, the bridesmaids, matrons and groomsmen processed in, one by one as the music played. Except for my son and one friend of the groom, all the groomsmen were all brothers of my son-in-law.

We then waited for this special moment...

...when my proud and happy husband and my sweet daughter began their walk down the aisle....

...towards her waiting groom.

They listened to the beautiful and sacred words of Corinthians 13:4-8:

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

They also read their own vows that were written from their heart.

My eyes teared with joy as they proclaimed their love and devotion.

They exchanged wedding rings....

...again expressing their love for each other.

And they were pronounced before God and family and friends as husband and wife!

My husband embraced his new son....

...and Lisa and Joseph began their walk down the aisle as Mr. & Mrs.!

Of course I have much more to show, as we had a wonderful celebratory reception afterward that I know you will enjoy seeing.  I will blog more about the wedding soon, as many photos are coming my way that were so graciously taken by family and friends. It has been so wonderful to re-live these happy moments through these photos as we wait for the professional shots.  I was so relieved that those who traveled far for the wedding -- one of whom was a Navy buddy of my son-in-law who traveled all the way from a Navy base in Italy -- all arrived home safely. Honestly, the many months of planning and the build up of excitement and anticipation for this wedding was so worth it to ultimately give our daughter the wedding of her dreams. Thank you for being a part of the journey and for all your best wishes!  We could not be happier and more excited to see her marry a man who will love, honor and cherish her forever!

I'm linking this post to Pink Saturday on Beverly's blog How Sweet the Sound.  Beverly is celebrating the forth anniversary of Pink Saturday blog hop --congratulations, Beverly on a very successful and fun event!

I'm also adding this post to Think on These Things, Seasonal Sunday, Sunday Bridges, Scenic Sunday, Sunlit Sunday and Spiritual Sundays.  Many thanks to all the blog hosts.

Saint Patrick's Grave in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

My photo of a Saint Patrick statue

 Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

When everyone celebrates Saint Patrick's Day around the world on March 17th with parades, leprechauns, shamrocks, corned beef and cabbage, and green beer, etc, it can be easy to forget that this day is the feast day of a real man who, for the most part, lived and died in Northern Ireland around the early part of the 5th century, and converted the then pagan Irish natives to Christianity.

My photo of a St. Patrick Statue 

 Church of St. Joseph

Brooklyn, New York

When Saint Patrick was around 14 years old he was kidnapped from his Scottish homeland by Irish raiders and sold into slavery in Ireland.  He was forced to work as a shepherd for six years, living under harsh conditions and suffering hunger and cold. Patrick turned to God for help as he wrote:

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Saint Patrick

Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

He eventually escaped through divine intervention and returned to his homeland, where he entered the priesthood and rose to the position of Bishop.  Patrick had many visions of the people of Ireland begging him to return:

"I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: "The Voice of the Irish". As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one voice: "We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us."

St. Patrick,  Church of St. Joseph, Brooklyn, New York

Legend has it that Saint Patrick used a three leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people, using its three leaves to symbolize the concept of three divine persons of God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He left a particularly strong impression in Ulster, especially in the Downpatrick area, although at the time of his death he had not yet converted the whole island and was still subject to persecution. After nearly thirty years of missionary work he died on March 17, 461, and according to tradition, was buried at Downpatrick.

I was very fortunate last year to be able to visit Downpatrick,  one of Ireland's most ancient and historic towns, when I was on a trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland last April of 2011. You can read about that trip, and others I've made to Ireland, if you scroll through my Ireland label here.

In Downpatrick I visited The Saint Patrick Centre, located at 53A Market Street, Downpatrick, County Down.

The Centre is an exciting interpretative exhibition which tells the fascinating story of Ireland's Patron Saint through Patrick's own words, as you can see in the photo mosaic above. A series of interactive displays allow visitors to explore how Patrick's legacy developed in early Christian times and enjoy the fabulous artwork and metalwork which was produced during this Golden Age.

The highlight of my visit to Downpatrick was in the grave yard of Down Cathedral, which is part of the Church of Ireland. It stands on the site of a Benedictine Monastery, built in 1183. Unfortunately, the church was not open on my visit, but interior photo links can be found at the bottom of this web page.

Slightly behind, and to the side of the church, on Cathedral Hill, is the graveyard.

There, on the crest of a hill overlooking the town of Downpatrick, lies the remains of Saint Patrick in a grave located under this slab of granite from the nearby Mourne Mountains.

On top of his marker were a few dried out bouquets of flowers that may have been laid there a month before, on his feast day last year.

I read the inscribed placard that says the remains of Saint Brigid and Saint Columba are also interred in this cemetery.

Tears came to my eyes as I touched the stone.

I was so touched and grateful to see the final resting place of the Saint whose name I bear, and in the country of some of my ancestors. This was one of the most memorable and spiritual sights of all I've seen in Ireland!

I'm linking  this post to the following upcoming blog events:

Mosaic Monday

Blue Monday

The Creative Exchange

Our World Tuesday

Outdoor Wednesday

Alphabe Thursday

Potpourri Fridays

Weekend Reflections

Saturday Think On These Things

Pink Saturday  (Green for St. Patrick's Day!)

Seasonal Sunday

Scenic Sundays

Spiritual Sunday

and

♣ Cuisine Kathleen's 4th annual Saint Patrick's Blog Crawl!! ♣

Thank you to all the blog hosts!

Have a very

May the Angels Lead You Into Paradise

Mom and Dad on their Wedding Day - 1944

I am very sad to announce the loss of my dear Mother. Her funeral took place today and as we mourned her death we also celebrated her life of 89 active and healthy years.  Survived by four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren and the spouses of five, and twelve great-grandchildren, she was well loved and cherished by all.

Her heart simply gave out last week, and she went quickly.  I am comforted that my husband and I, and my oldest brother and sister-in-law were by her side and prayed during her passing from this life to one of eternity. After being widowed for almost 40 years she is now finally reunited with my Dad in Heaven.  

May the Angels lead you into paradise, Mom, and may you rest in peace.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."

John 14:1-2