perfection

“My beloved ones, you yourselves will experience in your lives, even on this earth, that all of the perfection of holiness, all the fervor of action, all the usefulness of the missionary ministry consists not in great wisdom, nor in great intelligence, not in great skills or even in the amount of prayer and penitence, but solely in the perfection of holy Obedience. (KW 380)

St. Maximilian Kolbe

In September of 2024 we traveled to Poland on Pilgrimage. One year later many experiences during our time there have remained in my heart still today.

Our time spent in Auschwitz was a particularly poignant one.

I believe I experienced many of the same feelings most do while walking through the concentration camp. Extreme sorrow, grief, outrage, disbelief. However, one feeling that unexpectedly overwhelmed me was courage.

Unimaginable courage.

Continue reading “perfection”

VEP

Just a little fluff & stuff today…

A Carthusian monk in the Carthusian monastry of “la Valsainte.” Photo taken by Simon Glasson, around 1930.

Our family has a strong affection for the Carthusian Monk’s.

A dear friend of ours, Charlie, introduced us to a fun-fact about these beloved monks many-many years ago – as we shared a toast together for the first time with the “Elixir of Long Life.”

One of their many Cheers, together!

Yes, our first taste of Green Chartreuse VEP, produced by the Carthusian monks, was indeed many years ago – yet has since become a cherished family tradition for our family at every important or meaningful life event.

You can always expect to share this warm, (some would say burning,) minty green liquor with us, to ‘mark the occasion’.

Tradition dictates: Everyone partaking in a toast of Green Chartreuse VEP must sign the wooden box, especially when it is their first time imbibing!
Continue reading “VEP”

set your path!

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Jared \j(a)-red\   pronounced JARE-ed.

The name Jared is a Biblical name from the Hebrew name יָרֶד (Yared) or יֶרֶד (Yered) meaning “descent.”  In the Biblical Book of Genesis, Jared was the sixth link in the ten pre-flood generations between Adam and Noah; he was the son of Mahalaleel and the father of Enoch, and lived 962 years (per Genesis 5:18).  The meaning of the name is “he who descended” (Hebrew root YRD). In the Book of Enoch it is explained that Mahalaleel named Jared because during his lifetime the angels of the Lord descended to earth. The name could also be understood as “he who shall rule” (future tense of the Hebrew root RDH, as found for example in Psalms 72:8).

We have a Jared. Continue reading “set your path!”