Listening to your heart and walking with God on our Journey!

Good Evening Dear Family of  Love and those who are on pilgrimage with us!


Well family we are getting ready for the next season a season that is not like any of the others. We are approaching what we call in my faith the season of Advent. This time is a time for reflection, listening and going on a special journey that will once again lead us to Bethlehem or in Hebrew it means House of Bread where we will meet with expectation and a sense of wonder and awe the Christ child. This is a time where we get to meet God Incarnate, Man Divine. How can we again make this a time where we aren't doing the usual things that are in hyper-holiday drive and the need to out do, out buy and out spend and keep up with the Jones's?  May I suggest the following:( these are good even if you aren't faith based or faith centered)

Take time to listen to your heart and reconnect with you, yourself and God.
Take time to see the season as one of Love and the gifts need to come from the heart.
Take time to reflect on the year that is coming to a close.
Take time to practice good wellness of body, mind, and spirit.
Take time to be with your family and friends more often and not just at the Christmas. Getting to see them ahead of time will give you as they call in psychology baseline data from which to become acquainted. 
Take time to get to know the transportation schedules in town. I had a gentleman on my walk who needed to know when the next bus was. I was so sorry that I couldn't have helped him. 
Take time to begin your walking or fitness program. It will make things much more stress free. The Order of the Daughters of the King (R) are going to do just that by preparing their bodies for Triennial in 2015. 
Take Time to pray and listen to your heart and what God is telling you and where God is leading you on our journey. Have you hydrated enough with the Living Water, Tied your shoes laces tight, put on a jacket and asked God to be on our journey thus far? I hope you have, if you haven't, let's do it now in prayers for the first week of Advent!


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Help us to wait patiently again on you God and the plans you are setting before us.
Come thou long expected Jesus

Help us to give all our worries, anxieties, and all our live's baggage to you God, so that we may be free to worship you without fear but with a clean heart and on fire to serve you.
Come thou long expected Jesus

Help us to see are homeless, hungry, lonely, outcast and the least of these this season as we see Jesus, ,Joseph, and the Blessed Virgin Mary every year in the manger. When ever we see some one living out doors help us to remember and pray for them.
Come thou Long Expected Jesus

God our protector, watch over those who are traveling and are on any kind of journey, keep them safe  where ever they may be. 
Make ours and their pathways straight as we journey on towards you  and throughout this season and always.

We pray for ______________________________________
Give them comfort Lord.

We give thanks this day______________________________
Shine in our hearts with gladness.

We remember all those who reside in the Thin Places______________________

We pray especially for women, children, and all those who are vulnerable.
Comfort ye my people.

We pray for the aging, sick, and those in any health care facility. We also pray for medical professionals and caregivers.
Comfort ye my people

We pray for our family members near and far. Help us to love them more and more.
Shine in our hearts with overflowing streams of living water and love.

All this we ask in the name of God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. Amen.
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This week we will begin our Advent Prayer Walk. Tomorrow will the beginning of a progressive prayer walk framework that will be added onto as we journey on to Bethlehem. Won't you Walk with me on our journey?

I love you, you matter, and get out your walking shoes!

Love and peace of mind,
Sara

Creator of the Stars of Night


Watchman Tell us of the Night

Fun Friday and playing tourist in our town. and today's prayer cycle

Dearest Family of Love and fellow pilgrims on our Journey!

It felt good to walk and see if I could see the lights and decorations in one of the neighborhoods. Still too early I guess. I wandered into The Historic Santa Maria Inn and it is all dolled up for Christmas. I love seeing the decorations. The Inn is glistening as usual.  I love playing tourist in my town. I wanted to go home and get dressed up and go to the wine bar but that will have to wait. I love this time of year when I can be a girly girl and wear my LBD (little black dress) and Pearls or blingey necklace. One of the things that can help elevate your mood this time of year is dressing up and going out and having fun. If you don't go out do it at home. Make time for special occasions and marking time and season. It is almost time to put the Fall Decorations away and putting up the Advent wreathe and then a little while later the Christmas decorations there is no need to  rush. I invite each one of you  walk with me on the journey of  Advent and prepare once again for the time when God became God Incarnate, Man Divine. We will start on Sunday the First Sunday of Advent. We will be putting together a progressive prayer walking framework each day we will build and add on to it. On the Second Sunday of  Advent it will be part of my sermon and will appear in the blog too. We aren't there yet . Tonight we pray, tomorrow we walk and begin to prepare.  



Thank you Lord for the gift time and season slow us down when we are in the need to rush and be at the Manger ahead of you.

Lord we pray this night for those who are ill help us to help them by our prayers and by offering help.

Lord please be with all those who travel by any form of transportation. We remember especially________.
We pray for all those who have asked us to pray for. Let us be loving and compassionate.

Give us thoughtful and responsive spirits.

Keep all those who are in law enforcement, our troops, and first responders safe from harm.

We pray for rain to heal our parched land.

Help us to be good neighbors too all our family members. Help us to love those near, strangers, and our enemies for they are family members too. Give us strength and grace to do this.

Help us to respond to the homeless, hungry, needy,lonely, and outcast not by fear but with love and compassion.

Keep us healthy and well this season and lean on us when we need  to honor our bodies more fully.

Thank you again for this opportunity to pray.

We pray for___________________________________.

We give thanks for______________________________/

We remember__________________________________

God in your mercy hear our prayers and thanksgivings and know that you will respond in your time.
May we wait patiently on you and keep working in your vineyard while we wait.  May our voices, hands, feet, and eyes, be used in your service and to your glory. Amen.


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Well lovies until tomorrow! I love you, you matter, and I am thankful for you this day and always!
Don't forget to send in your prayer requests daily!

With lots of love and Gratitude!

Sara

Music Sampler Tomorrow! Be prepared for fun!

Don't do Black Friday ! Paint the town Pink and have some fun!

Hello dear family!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Instead of participating in Black Friday let's get Tickled Pink on Friday and have some fun! Yes Fun! Remember Fun = Living, loving, and laughing! I haven't gone nuts but we all need to decompress after today and take time for Fun on Fun Friday and throughout the weekend.

Smile at everyone you meet ! You might be surprised what the results will be.
Sing down the lane like Jeremy Brett did in "My Fair Lady!" I do this! I really do!
Go to the movies or rent the funniest movies you can down load. My favorite is "Much Ado About Nothing!" Hey nonny nonny! 
Go for a walk!
Send someone flowers who you don't know really well. Practice Random Acts of Kindness!
Take time to read the funnies!
Disguise your voice and call your loved one and talk to them. Steve and I had phone fun and made up wildly crazy scenarios. He even left me a call back number on my phone! It was Washington DC- The White House!
 I made up mysterious email accounts when he and his buddy were doing a film project! CluemistressClarice was one of them.
I have a made up avi on Twitter that I no longer use Sasha Constantine @sashathemystic because I don't remember the password and I'm having more fun being me !
Find funny videos on YouTube!
Take photos around town or where ever you are. I have influenced many to do this and I am enjoying their adventures.
I might just go run the bases tomorrow! 
The list if endless and the following elements must be there: Loving, Living, and Laughing!

Prayer walking resumes tomorrow! I will pray for you tonight as I have all along! You are forever in my life and heart.

I love you and give thanks to God continually for you!

Sara

Are You having any Fun

I am thankful for.....

Good Afternoon Dear and Precious Family of Mine !


Dearest God-

I'm thankful for You Lord and your wonderful and wonder-filled creation.

I'm thankful for opportunities to prayer walk and talk to you in the sweet and comforting breeze.

I'm thankful for my family all over the world and in cyberspace.

I'm thankful for the gifts both known and unknown that you continue to have me unwrap.

I'm thankful for this country and my ancestors who came to this country yearning to be free to believe.

I'm thankful for your love, comfort, and redeeming grace that sustains me day after day and in the night watches.

I'm thankful for my family who I'm knit together by blood.

I'm thankful for the many loved ones who now reside in the heavenly places.

I'm thankful for ______________________________

I pray  for all those who are alone, the widowed, divorced, and outcast.

I pray for those who have chronic pain and illness this day. I pray that they could enjoy some of the holiday.

I pray for_________________________________

I pray and give thanks for our faith communities and all religious leaders.

We pray for those who have to work this day. We pray that they may have time for rest and play.

Lord we lift these Thanksgivings and petitions to you this day and send them to you with love and compassion in our hearts. Amen.

Grief Bites, God's Grace and Our Journey together

Dearest Family of Love and Compassion and fellow travelers on our journey!

I couldn't walk tonight because I attended the Community Thanksgiving Service. I'm glad that I did because I had about a 3 hour grief bite. I hate these especially when lately it is an added accessory with the holidays. I prefer a bit of bling not sting! One is never prepared for this but I do know that having a responsive support system and family as you all are to me are vital.  A friend of mine suggested that I attend the Thanksgiving service which I did. I'm very glad and it soothed my grieving heart and soul. God's grace abounds all the time and I felt the cloud lifted with all of your prayers, thoughts ,hugs , love! Love, prayers, and words of comfort are what we all are about. Help us to always remember that we are on this journey together. Let's remember to always be responsive to those going through grief. As a family we need to be responsive and not be cold  and detached. Being cold and detached makes people feel  that they don't matter and feel like dirt. This kind of thing is not acceptable on our journey together. We journey on with love, prayers,comfort, and the ability to respond to each other and those in need. We are all in this together no matter what. We are a family in every sense of the word. God made us family from the very beginning and that is very good news!

So on this Thanksgiving Eve I give God Thanks for you! I love you and will be your sister to infinity and beyond and back again and then some! That is how I feel and it makes me smile and honored to call you family and friends and travelers on our journey this day and always! I promise to love, respond, care, and walk together with you in your joys,sorrows, and struggles come what may. I promise to continue to carry you and your prayer requests in my heart this day and always!

Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah! Light One Candle and Show God's extravagant love to the world that we are peacemakers, family, and for ever  pilgrims together!

Sara


We Gather together to ask the Lord's blessing

Come thou Fount of Every Blessing

Take time to pray and Light One Candle

Dear Family,

Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah Eve! What a wonderful combination of celebrations to have together. This afternoon's prayer response is : Light One Candle

Lord shine in our hearts with thanksgiving this night and tomorrow!

Light One Candle

Lord help us to show your light to others and those who may be in difficult circumstances.

Light One Candle.

Lord Give us courage to speak truth to power in love and support of the powerless.

Light One Candle

Lord Help us to be the light to those who grieve and those who are in transition.

Light One Candle

Lord May we continue to be the nation where the lamp of liberty was lit.

Light One Candle.

Lord May our hearts be light and joyous in these stressful and anxious times.

Light One Candle.

Lord Help us to believe even when we are having doubts.

Light One Candle

Lord give to all of our family members safety on their travels. Be a beacon of light and safety.

Light One Candle.

Help us to be the light!

Light One Candle.

For those who are celebrating Hanukkah may we remember that miracles still happen.

Light One Candle.

For those of our Christian Family members and all family members: "The Light of Christ in me recognizes the light of Christ in you."

Light One Candle.

Light One Candle by Peter, Paul, and Mary.

From the Kitchens of Grandma Lorena and Sara Lee Mac

Hi Family!

Here are a couple of recipes I'd like to share with you!

Love to all!

Sara

Grandma Lorena’s Favorite Recipes

For All Occasions

Mexican Corn Bread

2 Eggs Beaten                                    

1Cup Cream Style Corn

3 teaspoons Baking Powder

½ Cup Sour Cream

½ Cup Cottage Cheese                                          Mix all ingredients together.

2/3 Cup melted shortening or oil                       Bake for 1 hour at 350°  in metal pan (325 ° in glass pan)

1 Cup Yellow Corn Meal

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1 can diced green Chilies

1 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

½ Cup butter or margarine                               1 Teaspoon Vanilla          

½ Cup Shortening                                                2 Cups Sifted Cake Flour

1 1/2 Cups Sugar                               1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

2 eggs beaten                                                       ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Cup Sour Cream

Cream butter, shortening, and sugar. Add Eggs, sour cream and vanilla.

Blend well. Gradually add dry ingredients sifted together. MIXTURE WILL BE THICK!

Put ½ mixture into angel food cake pan. Top with ½ topping mixture and rest of the Batter and the remaining topping mixture. Bake 1 hour at 350°.  Optional - dust with sifted powdered sugar after removing from the oven

 Topping

½ Cup chopped mixed nuts

4 Tablespoons sugar

½ Teaspoon Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.

Walking on a Crisp Evening! Some things to keep in mind!

Dearest Family on Our Journey!

It was a crisp evening to walk and the town was busy with shoppers getting their  provisions for Thanksgiving. I was amazed that Shaw's Steakhouse was packed and the Pantry on Park wasn't. I guess people wanted steak before they have all that turkey. Tonight's prayer focus was  praying for all those who travel, even if it is only down the street. If you have an elderly friend or family member who matters to you this season please consider driving them. It is too busy a season for the elderly to be out driving. 

Things to keep in mind this season!

Let's keep an eye open for all those who are in need.
Don't forget the Salvation Army Red Kettles!
Go through your closets and garages and get rid of stuff.
Have an extra warm coat give it away coat drives are happening
Be mindful of those who are alone and those who are still grieving. A cup of kindness can go a long way.
Turn off your phone in the car!
Make your car a distracted driving free zone! Keep your eyes on the road.
Open your home to single people who may not have a place to go.
Keep healthy, get rest, and don't overdo. If you have a compromised immune system watch those crowds!
Designate a driver if you should decide to imbibe. Better yet have a party at home!
Take time to pray and meditate!
Go outside if weather permits!
Check in to your place of worship if you haven't done so lately. Don't just make it a twice yearly (Christmas and Easter) affair. God wants to see you be with your family.
Remember all the various charities that need donations !  I have a few and I will put together a list that could benefit by your donations and prayers. Many churches have alternative Christmas Markets.
Those are just a few suggestions.

I give God Thanks for you and love you from the deepest part of my heart. You matter to me and I treasure you all my dearest family. I carried you and your prayer requests in my heart as always!

With Love and Thanksgiving!

Sara

All you need is love -Beatles

Imagine John Lennon

Let it Be -Beatles

Across the Universe -Beatles

Take time for a midday retreat ! Prayers for the Tuesday before the First Sunday of Advent

Dear Family!

It's time for our mid-day and afternoon mini retreat! 

Today's prayer focus: Letting Go and Letting God !

Lord help us this week to let go of grudges that prevent us from being thankful and being truly family with one another and you. Let Go and Let God.

Lord help us to put our priorities in order by acknowledging our dependence upon you. Let Go and Let God.

Lord give us ways to live simply so that we may simply live. Let Go and Let God.

Lord  help us to accept change in our lives and in our families. Let Go and Let God.

Lord help us to praise you with joy and abandon without fear of looking weird. Let Go and Let God.

Lord help us to put our worries, fears, anxieties in your hands today. Let Go and Let God.

Lord help us to be patient when situations beyond our control make us tense, angry, and reactive. Let Go and Let God.

Lord help us to put our whole trust in you! Let Go and Let God.

Lord help us to take care of our bodies, minds and spirits as you would have us do. Let Go and Let God.

We pray for all those who have requested prayer. Help us to release those requests to you. Let Go and Let God.

Lord into your hands we  pray for_______________________________ Let Go and Let God!

Lord  we lift up our loved ones whom we love and now reside in your heavenly kingdom. 

Lord we pray for the Church and your ministers help them not to be stressed by this season. Help them and us to Let Go and Let God.

Lord we lift up these prayers to you by letting them go to you with our love, trust and assurance that you are our navigator on our journey. Amen.

Day By Day -Godspell

On Eagle's Wings

Be not Afraid - Talbot

Prayer Walking with the sounds of Paul Winter "Journey With the Sun"

Good Evening Dear Family,

I hope you all have had a good day! Well, I finally got the turkey and the Thanksgiving Dinner makings! That's done now to work on my house! We aren't eating here but it needs work.  How many of you have that feeling of overwhelm so far? I'll bet many of you do! I was glad to get out and walk this evening and feel the cool air. I am a big fan of Paul Winter and walked to his "Journey with the Sun". What a wonderful album. Soothing and not at all morose. Remember when I wrote a few months ago about selecting music? This is that time of the year when this is critical for your mood and sanity. I suggest if you are grieving to stay away from the sentimental stuff. I am fond Christmas music after my birthday in small doses. It kind of is the half way point in Advent so it doesn't get crazy!

Here are a few handy pointers to avoid overwhelm:
Breathe
Take time for laughter! 
Take a drive out to the country, beach, mall, or any place of your choosing!
See a movie!
Have a date night!
Decorate simply!
Forget the fancy! Keep it simple!
Don't feel as thought you have to do it all! Delegate and ask for help! 
Take a walk!  Or what ever is in your physical fitness routine!
Walk the dog if you have a dog!
Take time to pray!
Play music, Dance, Sing!
Do what ever makes you happy and content!
Live, love, laugh!
Don't just do ! Just Be!

Have a happy night! I love you! Please keep those prayer requests coming! I love to pray your prayer requests while I walk on our journey!

Love and peace of mind!

Sara

Paul Winter Journey With the Sun