Daily Actions

I will examine how I perform the ordinary actions of the day.

Have I risen at the sound of the bell and immediately turned my thoughts to God and to the subject of my meditation?

Have I prepared well the points of my meditation, and sincerely tried to make to make a good one; applying my memory, understanding, and will, and taking practical resolutions?

Did I hear Mass with reverence and receive Holy Communion with due preparation and thanksgiving?

Have I recited my prayers with attention and devotion, remembering that I was then praising God in the name of the whole mystical Body of Christ and in union with the saints and angels in heaven?

Have I applied myself seriously and constantly to my duties and occupations, with a right intention, seeing the dispositions of Providence in all circumstances of the day?

Have I avoided sensuality and selfishness in eating and drinking, and attended to the wants of my neighbor at table?

Have I been faithful in my devotions to the Sacred Heart, the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, my patrons and my guardian angel?

From Catholic Prayer Book

Plans for 2011

I love old mission style Churches as I'm sure many people do, and I've been thinking that I would love to take a road trip dedicated to visiting these old Churches. I don't see a trip like this being possible for 2010, but I'm hoping we can make it work in 2011.

I haven't looked into this yet, but I'm pretty sure we can find lots of Churches if we stayed along the coast. What a beautiful drive that is, even though I drove some of that last year, I would do it again in a heart beat.

Highway 1 is gorgeous, but, I would demand (yes, I said demand) that we drive up highway 1 and find another way to get home. Even if we rent a car to drive up and fly back down. Driving down the 1 means being on THE EDGE of the cliff and after nearly having a nervous break down the last time, I refuse to go through it again. As long as we're on the side of the road closes to the mountain, I'm good to go.

What places are you planning or just hoping to go to?

The picture was taken on last years road trip, it is the top of San Carlos Cathedral in Monterey, Ca. The reason I only took a picture of the top is because the rest of the Church was covered by scaffolding due to repairs.

Reading Goal for 2010

I've never been a big reader and I always wished I were, so last year I decided to read books mostly for entertainment value, with story lines that weren't too challenging, and I think my plan worked.

Now I find that I enjoy sitting down to read a book, and I love that feeling. If I begin to read something now, that seems like it will NOT hold my interest for long, it seems easier to keep on reading, and then I'm usually hooked. I used to give up on books after the first or second chapters.

This year I read a lot of Wanda Brunstetter novels. Her books are very easy to read, but enjoyable all the same. My favorite read of the year was Trianon: A Novel of Royal France . If you have not read it, you should.

I've decided to challenge myself a bit more in 2010, so I came up with a reading plan. Here goes:

Political: 2 Books

Spiritual (saints, etc.): 4 Books

Apologetics: 1 Book

Historical: 1 Book

Read 4 Fun: 7 Books

The last category is already in my Amazon wish list, but I need help with the other four. If you could recommend a book or two I would greatly appreciate it.

Book List for 2009: **recommended

• A Sister's Hope **
• A Sister's Test **
• Rome Sweet Home **
• A Sister's Secret **
• The Crossroad
• The Postcard
• A Cousin's Prayer
• The Hope Chest
• Plain & Fancy
• Trianon: A Novel of Royal France **
• Looking For A Miracle
• A Merry Heart
• The Bishop's Daughter **
• The Quilter's Daughter **
• The Storekeeper's Daughter **
• A Cousin's Promise
• The Great Brain
• Shattered Dreams

Bad Reading Habits

Since January 1st I have started 4 books, but I have yet to finish one. Now, this does not mean that they aren't good books, it's just what I do. My goal is 10 books this year, so I think it is time to set more time aside for reading.

I hope to have completed 3 of the 4 by may.


If anyone has a book they would like to recommend to help me reach my goal, I'd love to hear about it.

I finished a book. Whoo-hoo!!!

Well I finally finished A Bold Fresh Piece Of Humanity. I started the book on the plan trip to France, and I nearly completed it on the trip, I only had 3 more chapters to go.

Once we got home of it took me forever to pick it the book and finish it and I'm so glad that I did. I have now read 7 book this year, and if anyone knows anything about me then they would agree that that's REALLY REALLY GOOD!!

I just never took the time to sit and read before, now I rarely leave the house without a book. I often find that I'm in the middle of three books at a time, and that works for me.

Please do not let the fact that it took so long to finish A Bold Fresh Piece Of Humanity lead you to believe that the book is boring and not worth reading, that couldn't be further from the truth. I liked the book very much. Over the election period Paul and I watched a lot of The O'Reilly Factor and since he seemed like an interesting guy I thought I'd give his book a shot, and I highly recommend it. If you don't have a clue who he is, I suggest watching his show on FOXnews for at least a week, If you like him, you'll love the book, if you don't like him it might change your mind.