November 19, 2024
Dear Diary,
This morning’s walk to Church was crisp and sunny. The 49-degree air made it feel like the perfect autumn day. Mini was her cheerful self, trotting along beside Sister Mary Claire and me. On the way, we met Cheryl, one of Mini’s favorite neighbors. You would have thought Cheryl had been away for a year by the way Mini greeted her—spinning in happy little circles and wagging her tail-less bottom as fast as she could. Cheryl laughed and bent down to give Mini a pat, which made her day.
At Mass, Father LeRoy gave a wonderful homily that brought the Gospel reading to life. He shared the story of a man who, like Zacchaeus, had climbed high in life—not into a tree, but in his achievements. This man had everything he could want yet felt a great emptiness. It was only when he opened his heart to generosity and service to others that he truly found joy, just as Zacchaeus did when he welcomed Jesus into his home.
After Mass, Father took a moment to thank me for decorating the Gospel reading handout with the image of Mini and me. He said it gave the reading a warm, personal touch and made it even more meaningful for the parishioners. I felt a little glow of pride knowing that Mini and I had contributed something special.
This afternoon, I sat down to write a letter to Vreni. I thanked her for introducing me to St. Bernard’s Memorare prayer, which I’ve now copied into my All for Jesus book so I can pray it often. Her letters are always so thoughtful, and I’m excited to send mine off to her tomorrow.
For our evening snack, Sister Mary Claire and I enjoyed her freshly baked buns with a generous smear of butter. We paired them with mugs of hot chocolate, which warmed us up after the cool day. Here’s the recipe for the hot chocolate we made:
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
Instructions:Heat the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat until warm, but do not let it boil.
Whisk in the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt until smooth.
Stir until the mixture is hot and creamy.
Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract.
Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows, if desired. Enjoy!
As I write this, Mini is curled up by my feet, snoozing softly. The quiet hum of the evening feels comforting after a full and lovely day. I’ll end my entry with this little prayer:
Evening Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the blessings of this day—our walk to Church, the warmth of Cheryl’s kindness, and the wisdom of Father’s homily. Help me to be more like Zacchaeus, open to Your love and ready to share that love with others. Bless Sister Mary Claire and our home, and watch over Vreni as she continues to inspire me. And thank You for Mini, who brings so much joy to my days. Amen.
Goodnight, Diary.
Love,
Kathy
This morning’s walk to Church was crisp and sunny. The 49-degree air made it feel like the perfect autumn day. Mini was her cheerful self, trotting along beside Sister Mary Claire and me. On the way, we met Cheryl, one of Mini’s favorite neighbors. You would have thought Cheryl had been away for a year by the way Mini greeted her—spinning in happy little circles and wagging her tail-less bottom as fast as she could. Cheryl laughed and bent down to give Mini a pat, which made her day.
At Mass, Father LeRoy gave a wonderful homily that brought the Gospel reading to life. He shared the story of a man who, like Zacchaeus, had climbed high in life—not into a tree, but in his achievements. This man had everything he could want yet felt a great emptiness. It was only when he opened his heart to generosity and service to others that he truly found joy, just as Zacchaeus did when he welcomed Jesus into his home.
After Mass, Father took a moment to thank me for decorating the Gospel reading handout with the image of Mini and me. He said it gave the reading a warm, personal touch and made it even more meaningful for the parishioners. I felt a little glow of pride knowing that Mini and I had contributed something special.
This afternoon, I sat down to write a letter to Vreni. I thanked her for introducing me to St. Bernard’s Memorare prayer, which I’ve now copied into my All for Jesus book so I can pray it often. Her letters are always so thoughtful, and I’m excited to send mine off to her tomorrow.
For our evening snack, Sister Mary Claire and I enjoyed her freshly baked buns with a generous smear of butter. We paired them with mugs of hot chocolate, which warmed us up after the cool day. Here’s the recipe for the hot chocolate we made:
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)
Instructions:Heat the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat until warm, but do not let it boil.
Whisk in the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt until smooth.
Stir until the mixture is hot and creamy.
Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract.
Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows, if desired. Enjoy!
As I write this, Mini is curled up by my feet, snoozing softly. The quiet hum of the evening feels comforting after a full and lovely day. I’ll end my entry with this little prayer:
Evening Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the blessings of this day—our walk to Church, the warmth of Cheryl’s kindness, and the wisdom of Father’s homily. Help me to be more like Zacchaeus, open to Your love and ready to share that love with others. Bless Sister Mary Claire and our home, and watch over Vreni as she continues to inspire me. And thank You for Mini, who brings so much joy to my days. Amen.
Goodnight, Diary.
Love,
Kathy
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