Snow ,Silence and God!

I anticipated a wonderful weekend where I absolutely wanted to finish writing my cards and wrap some gifts. I thought I might be able to do a late night walk at the mall and sip a cup of coffee and maybe look for a handbag that I really do need. Hopefully, I thought maybe I could get a real deal on a good bag.

However, for the past two days I have been in my house due to a snow storm that has hit the Northeast. The only time I got out was on Saturday when I had to move my car when the plow man came and to attend the 4 pm mass at Saint Luke's. As I write the snow is still falling gently.

Although I was disappointed I could not go to the mall, I was able to write my cards and wrap some gifts. I also did so many other things that did my soul good! I made Christmas calls to most of my elderly relatives whom otherwise would get a card. They were thrilled to hear my voice and chat. I called some of my old work friends and supervisors that I have been thinking of and wanting to hear their voices (we laughed a lot about the old days). I had a chance to tidy up my desk in my Spirit Room and do my calender for 2009 . I relaxed with the Lord and prayed in silence as still as it was thanking God for all the blessings in my life especially this wonderful day to just 'be'. I listened to Christmas Carols and looked for a Pecan Breakfast Bread recipe that I will make tomorrow. Took a nice hot relaxing bath and manicured my nails. Needless to say it was a wonderful God weekend amidst the quiet and the purity of the falling snow. God was very present in all my activities. I could almost hear him say - slow down Paula - what's the rush? Let's enjoy one another! Indeed, how sweet it was!

I will not post another blog until after the new year. Hopefully, I will have some photos on the blog. I am also happy to say that my blog can also be accessed through a nunslife.org blog.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! God Bless!

What does everything have to do with everything

Lots going on in the news! The lastest is about a wall street investor that mis-managed millions from his clients. Very wealthy and prominent people. Looks like they will be strapped for money and might even be destitute according to one news program. The investor's son's turned him in to the police. What is going on here? The big 'G' word. Greed! Greed! !

On the flip side, the New York Yankees are opening up their wallets in the millions for pitchers. What is going on here? Even the auto industry can't get a dime from Congress!

I guess everything has to do with everything - big business, big money, big greed! Where does that leave us? So much imbalance in the world!

This will be a short blog today! I'am going to the mall and window shop.

Hard Times Hopeful Times

As I mentioned in my previous blog 'Cyber Monday' I like to go to the mall during this time of year. Not necessarily to do a lot of shopping but to be in the thick of all the excitement that this season lends itself to. I like to stroll the mall, window shop and have a bite to eat. When I first went the weekend of Thanksgiving, I did not feel the energy and the crowds weren't there like before. All the bad news about the stock market, layoffs, more layoffs and bail outs showed itself in the mall and with people's pocketbooks.

This weekend I decided to go to the mall. My niece, LindaB was doing makeups at the Nordstrom's Trend Show. And being a former beauty consultant myself, I always like to know what's new in the industry. I arrived at the mall around 2pm and could not find a parking spot anywhere. The place was packed! After circling, I finally found one, thanks to my friend Joseph. I always ask St. Joseph for help.

The mall was packed! People everywhere. I went into Nordstrom's and it was mobbed at the makeup counters. Every chair was taken for beauty makeovers. I walked into the mall itself and it was just as crowded. It seemed to be a little better than Thanksgiving weekend. I felt a sense of energy run through me. I don't know if people were actually buying a whole lot but I sensed that people, at least for that day, lightened up a bit. After all the bad news on the TV, on the Internet, and the newspapers this day lended itself to a little hope during these hard times.

A little fun, maybe? A little walk around the mall with a cup of coffee or a pastry, maybe? Looking 10 years younger from a beauty makeover, maybe? Or, maybe just for one day, losing oneself in the midst of the crowds.

I know people are hurting, I know people are waiting on the food pantry lines, I know people are losing their jobs and houses. These are very real things that are happening right now to millions of people. And I know that our president-elect Obama said that this recession could get worse before it gets better. I know that! But I also know that there is hope and that is what I feel. The Spirit works through chaos and hard times in making things new. As painful as it is we are in the midst of a rebirth. It is going into the unknown that is the hardest. But we are a people of hope. We are resilient and we stand strong together. Reaching out to help each other is key right now. Being supportive, being a good listener and being hopeful for others. Depending on our circumstances, we could volunteer at a homeless shelter, or help out a neighbor who has fallen on hard times.

I count my blessings everyday and pray that I never take anything I have been given for granted. It is all gift from a very generous God. With hope and trust we can get through this with each other. I met a woman today at a store and she was laid off from a bank after 26 years. Ouch! that hurts. However, she was hopeful that she will get a another job, not at a bank though, but somewhere else and perhaps doing something different. Maybe God has other plans for her. You never know!

During this sacred time of Advent we wait and we hope and we trust. All is not lost and never will be.

A Year Without China

Last year while I was listening to NPR they were interviewing a woman who wrote the book 'A Year Without China'. The context of the book was that her family decided not to buy anything made in China for that year. They wanted to buy only USA made items, or items not made in China. The author said that it was very difficult to purchase USA made products. When her kids needed sneakers she went online and bought them from Italy, since all the big name brands here are made in China among other items that they had to research.

I must say that I was impressed with the interview so I decided to try it too. I was tired of all the things that I picked up in a store that were made in China. Help! Can't we make anything here in the USA! After several weeks I was very proud of myself that I bought nothing made in China. I hardly bought anything at all. But after a while it became increasingly frustrating for me to go into the Christmas Tree Shop or Dollar Tree Stores and find really good buys, really nice looking items that were made in China. Even buying Christmas and birthday gifts it was hard to get away from China. My family, friends and community knew that I was off China! When I received a gift I looked at the label or tag and it always said 'made in China'. Doesn't anyone listen? I was off China!

Towards the end of the summer my crusade for being off China began to wane. Mainly because I exhausted my energy going around to find things that weren't made in China. I was tired of surfing the Internet for things not made in China. I was beaten! I had better things to do.

After months of my crusade, I gave in to China. And now some of the most affordable things I have gotten lately are made in China. I noticed some of the lacework on the doilies are impeccable even if they are machine made. I bought a pair of Christmas socks at the Dollar Tree Store for a buck. Saw the same socks at Kmart for a little more.

I am no exception to the financial downturn and belt-tightening these days. I need to look out for my pocketbook and how I spend. Okay, I went almost a year without China but it reinforced in me something that I already knew. The people that make the products work extremely hard and for very long hours and for so very little money for USA manufacturers in China. Where is the justice in that?

Cyber Monday

This is the first Sunday of Advent. I can't believe that Advent is here already. Where does the time go? Advent is a really special time of year. Even the sky is different. There is nothing quite like an Advent sky. The silence, the darkness and the anticipation. The anticipation of waiting and listening.

I can't help but think about my post called Black Friday and how so many people on the food pantry lines, soup kitchens and shelters will experience so many Black Fridays and not the material kind either. They wait in lines, they wait......

On the flip side, the retail industry is also waiting. Waiting for the results of Black Friday and will wait for the results of Cyber Monday online shopping. This will probably be a indicator of how things will fare for holiday shopping.

I went to the Mall on Saturday after mass. I usually like to go at holiday time especially later in the evening to enjoy the sights and to be in the hustle and bustle of things. This time it was different. I found a parking space right in the front of Macy's. (Usually , I have to go around a couple of times to find one) There were people in the store but not quite as profoundly busy. Lots of sales clerks ready to help were standing around waiting. I observed that people were very careful on what they were spending. I was in one store when I overheard a husband/wife commenting on how much one garment cost and the wife said 'that's it were only spending $45.00' The sales clerk told me that Black Friday was really busy but today it was really slow.

I thought about this on my way home. Everyone is waiting. Waiting for food in the soup kitchens and food pantry lines. Sales Clerks waiting for a sale, the retailers waiting for a dollar amount and the country waiting for some relief. As Christians we wait too! We wait for the one who will give us hope to dispel our fears and anxieties. We wait for the light to lead us out of the darkness. We wait and we attentively listen to what speaks to our hearts. Despite the financial downturn and belt-tightening we wait in hope and in trust that things will get better.
This Advent let's prepare ourselves in waiting for who is to come.

Black Friday

Greetings and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

It doesn't seem possible that Thanksgiving day has come and gone with all the preparation of cooking and baking to make our tables an abundant harvest from the earth. Mindful however of all those who waited in soup kitchen lines and shelters this year for a meal. Maybe they were first timers with their families who experienced a downturn financially and had no where to turn for a good Thanksgiving meal. We are lucky to have these places who serve so well the needy of our times. We thank God for those who donated their time, talent and treasure to help out.

I often think about the term 'Black Friday', and having a retail background , I know quite well it means; big dollars and cents for the retail industry. However, when I look at the people in the shelters, soup kitchen lines and food pantry lines these days,I can't help but think how many 'Black Fridays' they will experience which won't be of the material kind. I feel for all those who are having it so difficult. I pray for hope to dispel fear during these uncertain and anxious times.

Myself, I feel called to live on much less. I am disposing of all those things that I don't really need or want. I have made more trips to the Salvation Army boxes and Resettlement Refugee Donation Center. I feel free in knowing that I am sharing with others who are so less fortunate. It is a real good feeling!

What are your thoughts?

SP