giggles – Page 70 – hugsnblessings

Bearing my Blessings out to dry!

Published on October 8, 2015May 12, 2016 by Dawn Marie5 Comments

Hip-Hip-Hooray, it is 3hugs&blessings Thursday!!

And although I’ve been neglectful to share…the blessings have continued to hang-out with me and be there!

My recent blessings:

The Saints God sent me this week to guard & guide me. Most especially St. Pontian (for his understanding heart,) and St. Hippolytus (for his loving obedience.)
The ridiculously-fun-real-life-relationships I have with my 3 adult children and how we have all stuck together these past 2 years, despite the messiness of life!🙈 They fulfill me, challenge me & bring me closer to God every day in various ways! No matter how exhausted I may become there is always energy to laugh together!🙉 #ohhowilovethem #notmymonkeysnotmycircus🙊
The new friends I made during our pilgrimage to see our Papa, Pope Francis, in Philadelphia, Pa! This includes ‘The Mexicans’ (and all those I met from all over the World!)

I do pray pardon for bear-ly keeping up with this challenge & invite you, once again, to forage your thoughts before hibernating tonight and give thanks for your 3hugs&blessings this day/week too!

Let’s all keep spreading happiness with 3hugs&blessings at a time!

(And may this not be to awfully botherly-bother for you to do!)

I can bearly wait to count my blessings for the week ahead! (Think. Think. Think.)

These 3hugs&blessings are for you, as I’m praying you’ll count your blessings too!!

“In the world you will have trouble but take courage I have conquered the world!!!!”

John 16:33

The Spirit of Cooperation

Published on September 24, 2015September 30, 2015 by Dawn Marie1 Comment

And so it begins…

Day One of our Pilgrimage.

Thousands of thoughts run through my head. The sights, the sounds and the people. Ah yes, those smiling people!

From the moment of arrival, to the sluffing off toward our hotel rooms from a full-day of travel, there is an electic under-current of anticipation surrounding…those smiling people.

We are entering into pilgrimage together. Meeting people we’ve never known, absorbing information we must learn, and traversing through detail after detail in preparation. And still they smile.

Ever mindful to stop for prayer. (I can even hear their smiles there.)

We read on our Smart-Phones, as we traveled, what Pope Francis said today when he addressed Congress:

“We must move forward together, as one, in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the common good. The challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States. The complexity, the gravity and the urgency of these challenges demand that we pool our resources and talents, and resolve to support one another, with respect for our differences and our convictions of conscience”

And when he said this, I bet he was smiling.

I know this because I saw the JOY today from those who put this very spirit into action. We “moved forward together as one, in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating genererously for the common good;” and despite the challenges along the way we “pooled our resources and talents & resolved to support one another with respect for our differences,” and so we smiled.

And with the dawning of a new day tomorrow…I’m quite certain we shall smile some more!

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! Psalm 100:1-4

may these hugs n’ blessings…make you smile!

Papa Pepperoni!

Published on September 21, 2015September 27, 2015 by Dawn Marie2 Comments

it’s the Monday giggles and…

I remember when I heard he was first coming!

“Really?? Here to the U.S.? And to my very own state of Pennsylvania???”

I was verklempt! (Choked with emotion.)

And thus my mission began…How could I navigate through the various personal obstacles I must over-come and make the pilgrimage to Philadelphia to be near our Holy Father, Pope Francis? A daunting task, (if you knew the full-story,) so it was of no great surprise when just two weeks ago I abandoned the notion of accomplishing my goal. And truthfully, I was disappointed…but rather quickly I swapped my disappointment with enthusiasm for all the others from our Diocese who would be making the 404 mile journey to be with the Vicar of Christ, as he visited our great Country! I was genuinely excited they would be experiencing the great grace of being near him!

3am Scones & Tea for the Royal”s Wedding.

Launching into Plan B I began researching & gathering all the information necessary to watch the day-to-day coverage at home; beginning September 22 until his departure September 27, as well as listen on Sirius Channel 129 when away from a television! I’ve set up similar “coverage marathons” before like: the wedding festivities of both Princess Diana & Prince William, prior Papal conclaves, or the OJ Simpson trials (I made that last example up in hopes of a giggle!😂) My excitement was growing as I collected the necessary data to partake in a personal experience with my Pope, even if it were to be across the air-waves!

Doesn't everyone eat Pope-tarts for breakfast during a Conclave? — Doesn’t everyone eat Pope-tarts for breakfast during a Conclave?

Imagine my surprise and great giggles, when just three days after resigning myself to waving my Pope flag alone in my living room, I received a phone call from our Diocesan office with a special request:

“Would YOU be willing to serve as an emergency substitute Bus Captain, leading our Diocesan Pilgrims to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, where our holy Father will be attending?”

I was verklempt! (Choked again with emotion.)

And so it begins!

With the blessing of my family

and affirmation from my Spiritual Director…

off I go,

(in just a few short days,)

toward Philadelphia, Pa!

*Along with an anticipated 1.5 million others,

(with their own giggle of what led them there,)

to be near Him!

And just because it’s the monday giggles I will share with you this (private) little giggle:

“Wouldn’t it be great if I could return and say: “I had some pizza with the Pope while I was away!” (Even if he was just on the cover of the box, per-say? 😉)”

Be sure to check in periodically to see what’s happening throughout the pilgrimage. I will do my best to share a “slice or two” of information with you!

Until then this hug n’ blessing is for all those in Philly preparing for

our arrival!