Joy In The Journey

  Join us this Friday in a Triduum (Three days of prayer), Friday is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Saturday is the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sunday is Father's Day and we will be honoring the Most Chaste Heart of Joseph. Our Rosary Company was founded in honor of the hearts of the Holy Family, so this weekend is kind of our honorary feasts. For each day of this Triduum we will be praying the Hearts Rosary Chaplet. If you are one of our customers, you will have received one of our brochures which has instructions on how to pray the Hearts Rosary Chaplet. We also have the instructions on our website at  https://www.heartsrosary.com/prayer  

  It's Christmas Eve morning and I am excited for whatever the day brings especially the coming of the birth of Jesus and the blessings and grace that await each new day.   This morning I’m also reflective with emotions and thoughts about my dad who died 21 years ago on Christmas Morning and my mom who died 25 years ago in November.   In my heart I know that they are together in heaven celebrating with Jesus and all those I love who have gone home to glory and that brings peace and comfort to my heart.     And along with it, so much gratitude because my parents left us with so many wonderful traditions and family memories, family was everything to them. They also instilled in us a spirit of gratitude and I am so grateful that never was there ever a time that I talked to my mom or dad that I did not tell them how much I loved them.   I was by mom’s side when she drew her last breath and I saw the love in her eyes as she was leaving this world for the n...

Morning Musings  

  My Nonna.   She has been on my heart a lot lately. And this picture captures the essence of her beautiful always smiling face, the love that always beamed from her eyes, the peace and joy that filled every encounter with her. My Nonna Rosina always wore a babushka on her head and was always fingering her rosaries in her apron pocket. There are so many memories growing up with my grandparents right next door. The delicious cookies and 7 UP she would bring out when we were playing outside, cooking and baking with her, she loved sweet potatoes and potatoes in general and often added cinnamon to her chicken and steak while cooking. Nonna kept a stash of 7 UP under her bed to the chagrin of my grandfather and the inside door to her little walk in closet was plastered with Holy Cards, her dresser had framed pictures of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus that are now in my bible and the couch in her living room was covered in plastic. She kept her...

  “For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth” Psalm 139: 13 - 15 Grief and loss never go away, no matter the years, gratefully love and gratitude for the blessings always remain How is it that 24 years can feel like the blink of an eye! 24 years ago today I sat by my mom's side, holding her hand stroking her brow and telling her how very much I loved her as she was drifting into the last few hours of her life. The next morning, still by her side we said our last goodbye on this side of heaven. I knew at the time that I had been given so many gifts: The gift of a mother who to me was beyond compare and the strongest most amazing women of love, faith, courage, fortitude, perseverance and grace that I have ever known...

Hard to believe this was 10 years ago, where does the time go.... I was in awe and drenched from the mist!! The roar of the water and gushing of the falls was deafening and the spray of the mist was so powerful it came down in a constant turret!! Truly one of the most awe inspiring and majestic experiences I have every witnessed!! There were many areas along the catwalk to stop and take in the beauty of the falls. It was pure grace that I found myself alone at the edge of one of the platforms nearest the falls, head, face, heart and hands lifted in awe and praise to God for the majesty of His Wonder as the mist gushed down over me. A most powerful experience!! I didn't want to leave but everyone was already up at least two tiers away and so I had to force myself to leave.....for me it was the best part of the Cave of the Winds!!! Niagara Falls is awe inspiring and amazing and it was a blessed family trip. And a big note to self for next trip to Niagara, bring a waterproof camera ...

I came across this picture and this article  in the Corpus Christi Caller Times doing a Throwback Thursday about my  sister Irma and her husband, my brother-in-love Len amusement park called Magic Isles that was written in October 2017. And it got me thinking about people that I love and the lessons in life and in business that I have learned from their example. Since I was 7 or 8 years old I have grown up knowing Irma and Len's love story and being a firsthand witness to their powerful example of love, fidelity, dedication to family and community, hard work, generosity and wisdom individually and as a couple.   And their love story is an ongoing tribute to love and legacy as they celebrated 52 years of marriage this August, their unity in all things and Leonard's trail blazing, innovative and intuitive spirit that has not only made him a successful businessman and entrepreneur but his influence that has been passed down to his children providing a beautiful legacy f...