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All content on this blog is copyright protected.~ask permission to use my content (including re-blogging)Margaret Barry Settlement House
I am a perennial optimist
I Am Becoming the Me I Was Born To Be
As I journey through this part of my life I have discovered my next mountain. The key is to be the me I want to be in the world, as my gift back to God.-
Recent Posts
- How are you today?
- Mama’s Counterpane and Me
- Ballet transported me
- Do you remember who your first friends were?
- Mama’s Button Tin
- What renews your mind and heart
- The wonder of sweet dogs
- God not forget
- here comes the 4th of July
- Welcome to Phoenix in Summer
- Poems that my parents taught us
- Yay! Thursday is my favorite day!
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January 2021 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Archives
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Author Archives: Kate Kresse
How are you today?
Today i am feeling reflective. I have been thinking about the ups and downs of life. With all that is going on in the country and the world, my perennial optimism has been squeezed and squished, ALMOST eliminated. The emphasis … Continue reading
Mama’s Counterpane and Me
I started reading when I was very young . I was 3 or 4 years old. I credit my parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents for this. They were all voracious readers. They were all huge fans of libraries, as they … Continue reading
Ballet transported me
When I was a toddler my pediatrician recommended that I take ballet. Apparently, I was extremely uncoordinated due to the fact I was born pigeon toed. I was falling over, tripping and running into things. I didn’t even walk until … Continue reading
Do you remember who your first friends were?
In these COVID days, I have been thinking a lot. I have been thinking about friendships and family. It is funny. Sometimes friendships begin because your teacher’s seating chart places you next to someone who turns out to be “a … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
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Mama’s Button Tin
When I was growing up, my parents “made do”. My mom made all of our clothes except for socks, underwear, and shoes. She did make our slippers, though. She could see an article of clothing in an ad or hanging … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
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What renews your mind and heart
I was talking on the phone with one of my uncles today. He is so sweet and kind. So are all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. At certain parts of my life I have been blessed to live in … Continue reading
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The wonder of sweet dogs
Copied this, it touched me..i see my friends and relatives who have dogs (and cats) in this … …………. When I am old… When I am old… I will wear soft gray sweatshirts… and a bandana over my silver hair….. … Continue reading
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God not forget
If you are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, downhearted, or even apathetic, please remember that no desert is infinite. Deserts end, mountaintops are reached, storms and floods end. Perseverance is a challenge. But we can persevere. Even though our deserts continue today, … Continue reading
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here comes the 4th of July
The 4th of July was a BIG DEAL in my family. My family had so many traditions, so many traditions. I could write multiple posts about that. There were 5 of us when I was growing up. My parents, my … Continue reading
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Welcome to Phoenix in Summer
This is how you know you are in Phoenix in any summer month when… *The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground. *The trees (same height as fire plugs) are whistling for the dogs. *The … Continue reading
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Poems that my parents taught us
When I was growing up, my parents often quoted poetry to us. They did this to inspire, reassure, and at times bring humor to our lives. When they were in school, they were required to memorize all kinds of poems. … Continue reading
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Yay! Thursday is my favorite day!
Starting sometime in high school (a LONG time ago), Thursdays became my favorite day. School was pretty much always my happy place. I loved it. I loved the give and take between teachers and students. Teachers inspired me. Academics came … Continue reading
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A guest post
do you like photography? Did you like fairy tales and using your imagination when you were growing up? This guest post will appeal to you. https://wp.me/pbVRp9-3r
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Sometimes my inner tigger gets eeyore ish
I suppose it happens to all of us. There are times when I am just dragging. On those days, I just want the burdens on my back or in my heart to lift or fly away. There really is no … Continue reading
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Make music with what we have left
The Greatest Generation came of age, of course, during the Great Depression. They sacrificed. They went without They made do. They did what had to be done. When things got better, they never took affluence for granted. The following story … Continue reading
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A conversation with God
I chat with God about so many things. I bet you do, too. I saw a post recently that really comforted me. I find that some days, I need comfort and inspiration. Thus, I assume I am not the only … Continue reading
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God needs our hands
Happy Sunday to you. Are you feeling adrift or directionless? These first words were written by St Teresa of Avila, in the 14th Century. “God has no hands but our hands to do his work today; God has no feet … Continue reading
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How about pulling up your socks and getting perspective?
when my elders wanted me to gain perspective and move from seeing the negatives to seeing the positives, they would say “pull up your socks”. The Bible says “gird your loins”. Either way, we need to do that, don’t you … Continue reading
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I was thinking about love
This morning I was looking out my window at God’s beautiful work. It is spectacular, don’t you think? We have been given so much by Him. But love is His greatest gift. He sent us His son, because of love. … Continue reading
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A poem that I love
I’ve always appreciated poetry, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is one if my favorite poets. His “A Psalm of Life” definitely makes my Top ten, as do a couple of Rabindranath Tagore’s works: A Psalm of Life BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW … Continue reading
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How is your heart today?
The days go by, the internet and new is SO FULL of commentary. Yesterday, i turned off the news and ignored most of my newsfeed. I just could not handle it AT ALL Instead, I turned on the classical music … Continue reading
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Can you believe the world today
What an odd culmination of events we have already been through. Would you have imagined all the schools would be closed as recently as last fall? Would you have anticipated that children’s authors and actors would be reading aloud for … Continue reading
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Let’s all be understanding
**Note** My friend Amy wrote the post below and it is exactly how I have been feeling, so I had to share her well thought out message. I’m sure many of you would also agree with much of what she … Continue reading
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Feeling low or off?
Depression tips Shower. Not a bath, a shower. Use water as hot or cold as you like. You don’t even need to wash. Just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. Sit on … Continue reading
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are you refreshed or are you careworn
Beautiful reminder….. The weary soul Our schedules are so toxic that we have forgotten what it feels like not to RUSH everywhere. Busyness is not listed in the Bible as a spiritual gift! Yet we celebrate it as if it … Continue reading
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I am praying for YOU
Even though most of us haven’t met in person, I do pray for you. In these turbulent times it feels so lonely for some of us. God has our backs and is with us always. I would dearly love to … Continue reading
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Friday Musings
Here we are on Friday. How is your week going? I hope you all are doing well and feeling loved today. In Phoenix, the weather is glorious. I walked the dogs, made breakfast. Thanks to the internet, I am watching … Continue reading
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I hunger to be with people
I was in a zoom meeting last night with a group of friends. We are all part of a women’s networking group. When the group was formed it was intended to be a supportive group where we know each other’s … Continue reading
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Still your heart… breathe
I must admit, my mind and heart just cannot create right now. I just keep praying that healing will come. Healing for those infected by the Corona virus. Healing for those suffering from the flu. Healing for those suffering from … Continue reading
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We are all born for love
Here we are, April 2nd 2020. The world is amidst a BIG adjustment. We are prioritizing our lives in vastly different ways. All over the internet I see so many people giving, giving, giving. I see people reaching out and … Continue reading
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Is Your Head Spinning Yet?
Oh my stars, my friends. My mind is overwhelmed. Today I need to put the news on mute. It is sunny today in Phoenix, and I plan to do some yard work and take my dogs for multiple walks. I … Continue reading
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