[美队] An Eventful Week

本帖于 2013-02-17 07:01:48 时间, 由普通用户 京燕花园 编辑

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This past week has been an eventful week.

Sunday, Feb 10th, was Chinese Lunar New Year, sending away the big Dragon and welcoming the little one. I spent the whole day cooking, putting together a nice dinner for our family to enjoy.

Monday morning, I woke up to a message of shocking news from my friend Qing, "Our Pope Benedict is stepping down!" When I read the announcement in the Holy Father's own words, tears rolled down my face. I was saddened by the news but I also respected his decision. Like our Lord Jesus said, not my will, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. "

Tuesday, Feb 12th, was Fat Tuesday, also called Mardi Gras. Traditionally people used up all the fat in the household and had a carnival celebration. I was still quite sad, I did not feel like having any extravagant celebration. I wrote to a very spiritual Priest I trust, and he replied, "Do not be saddened by the resignation of our Pope, God is good and He will guide us."

Wednesday, Feb 13th, was Ash Wednesday. It marked the beginning of Lenten season 2013, the forty days (not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter. I watched on EWTN (Eternal Word TV Network), our Pope Benedict's last public Mass service at St. Peter's Basilica. At times I was chocked up. It was such a beautiful solemn High Mass. And I was deeply moved when the Holy Father crossed the Cardinals with ashes on their heads. The ashes came from burning last year's Palm Sunday branches, mixed with Holy Oil. It reminds us to repent. When the Mass ended, people were all tearing up. Everyone rose and applauded, our Pope smiled. He is so tender-hearted, loving and brave!

The fact that Chinese Spring Festival and Lent start almost on the same day gave people mixed feelings: to celebrate or to be serious? In fact, there are not conflicts: they are both times for renewal.

Thursday, Feb 14, was St. Valentine's day. That morning sister Tern asked me if I was going to write something. I told her the week had been eventful and I did not know where to begin. That afternoon I drove by Sacred Heart Church. I planned to go in and pray for our Pope, as well as a long list of loved ones. I was disappointed when I saw that the door was locked. As I turned to leave, some beautiful red tulips in the front court caught my eyes. All too often, I was dashing around and not paying attention to little beauties around me. This time I stayed by the flowers and prayed the Rosary. All my worries melted away, I saw everyone I love in the Lord's Sacred heart. Over the years I have received many loving hearts, the biggest one is the Lord's Sacred Heart. It was so wonderful to pay tribute to His heart on St. Valentine's day.

Friday I had a chance to go back to the Sacred Heart Church. Fortunately the door was open because a family was doing a wedding rehearsal. I went in briefly and prayed in front of the Pieta, a replica of the famous one carved by the master Michelangelo, in St Peter's Basilica. When I looked at Mother Mary, I knew she would hold all of us dearly in her immaculate heart.

Today, Saturday, ends the week with a light-hearted note. It is a nice warm day, my daughter had swim time trial. She swam so well and took time off on almost all of her events. Last year as a freshman in high school, she was moved up to swim in the varsity team. The coach recognized her efforts, and she received many awards. This evening my son's girlfriend came over for dinner. This is the first time that we met her, she is very sweet and we had a good time chatting. Even though I was fasting for Lent for the last couple of days, I still cooked a nice dinner tonight. I cooked a chicken artichoke casserole, garlic bread and a light salad, and the girl brought over a delicious peach cobbler made from her family recipe.

I look forward to the days to come, pray that peace and love will always surround us.

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Eventful, yes, but mostly good! -冲浪潜水员- 给 冲浪潜水员 发送悄悄话 冲浪潜水员 的博客首页 (106 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 01:52:47

Thank you surfer-diver, yes all the events lead to goodness. -京燕花园- 给 京燕花园 发送悄悄话 京燕花园 的博客首页 (121 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 08:39:04

好漂亮的郁金香呀,春天来了,京燕儿的文字洋溢着生活的美好。 -婉蕠- 给 婉蕠 发送悄悄话 婉蕠 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 09:59:33

亲爱的婉蕠,这是春天第一组美丽花朵,春的脚步近了。。。 -京燕花园- 给 京燕花园 发送悄悄话 京燕花园 的博客首页 (69 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 10:09:53

充实幸福的一周! -肖庄- 给 肖庄 发送悄悄话 肖庄 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 12:36:03

Indeed, thank you 肖庄,周末愉快,新春如意(^O^) -京燕花园- 给 京燕花园 发送悄悄话 京燕花园 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 13:13:03

Thanks Xiaoman. Tulips to brighten up our life!(*^_^*) -京燕花园- 给 京燕花园 发送悄悄话 京燕花园 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 20:10:53

春节--春天的节日,在你们那儿名副其实。 -ntotl- 给 ntotl 发送悄悄话 ntotl 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 19:11:09

春天来啦,ntotl 春节快乐! (^O^☆♪ -京燕花园- 给 京燕花园 发送悄悄话 京燕花园 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 20:13:20

你是真正热爱生活拥抱生活的人啊! -beautifulwind- 给 beautifulwind 发送悄悄话 beautifulwind 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/17/2013 postreply 22:04:19

亲爱的美风mm,让我们一起拥抱生活,瞬间的美好在心中永恒(^O^☆♪ -京燕花园- 给 京燕花园 发送悄悄话 京燕花园 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/18/2013 postreply 09:47:58

Sis写得好!记录下生活的点滴,谢谢分享! -非文学青年- 给 非文学青年 发送悄悄话 非文学青年 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/18/2013 postreply 16:09:19

谢谢青儿妹妹鼓励,爱把一切都串起来,blessings (*^_^*) -京燕花园- 给 京燕花园 发送悄悄话 京燕花园 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/18/2013 postreply 20:54:54

joy, peace, love, beauty. -淘金客- 给 淘金客 发送悄悄话 淘金客 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/18/2013 postreply 19:22:08

Thanks 淘金客,let's slow down and live in the beautiful moment (*^_ -京燕花园- 给 京燕花园 发送悄悄话 京燕花园 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 02/18/2013 postreply 20:56:55

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