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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.-
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- Architects of Change
- we can light the world
- The path less traveled
- Does a new year make you want to change?
- Begin Each Day With a Grateful Heart
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- wishing you porch swings and compasses
- Pause with me
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was right
- I fell in love with the ocean
- H2O therapy
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June 2023 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 Archives
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Category Archives: Family Life and Issues
we can light the world
I like to think of my life as an ongoing tapestry or as a journey through an ever changing landscape. The path I am on was made by Him, and I work to trust Him even if I get bogged … Continue reading
Pause with me
Happy Saturday. How are you doing today? Do you feel the need to pause and collapse this weekend?To pause to restore and regroup is a comforting way to put it. For me, striking a balance between stepping back to pause … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, Nature, stress
Tagged destress, Faith, pause, regroup
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H2O therapy
Anyone else feel de-stressed around water? Yesterday afternoon, I headed to our community pool and went for a quick swim. Being in the water works like a charm for me. My favorite, of course,is the ocean. But, a river, lake, … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues, God, Nature, optimism, stress
Tagged beach therapy, relaxation, stress
2 Comments
Stay in grace
Good morning! Here we are at the start of a new week. I was thinking about direction for this week, as I had my morning coffee and watched the birds in my yard.. Does watching nature calm you?youth? Need calm … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, optimism, stress
Tagged faith; grace; hope
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The Great Depression & my parents
Did your parents grow up during the Great Depression? My parents grew up during that time. It affected how they lived their lives. It made them very careful with their money. It made them wise. They knew the importance of … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues, God
Tagged empty shelves, family, Great Depression, pay it forward, wisdom
5 Comments
The need to feel at home
Roofs – by Joyce Kilmer ‘The road is wide and the stars are out and the breath of the night issweet,And this is the time when wanderlust should seize upon my feet.But I’m glad to turn from the open road and … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Nature, stress, time management
Tagged de-stress, self-care
1 Comment
Happy Monday, Happy July
Can you believe that it is already July? My goodness the months have been flying by here. As always we each face ups, downs, challenges, losses triumphs but we believe anyway. I do hope that this week is starting out … Continue reading
Good things take time
I have been reading Coach Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success“. I am always on the lookout for insight, succinct sayings that can serve to propel me, or my students, or my loved ones forward on the path of life. Over the … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues
Tagged Faith, Good Shepherd, John Wooden, perseverence
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What will you plant in your soul
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul”. ~ Thomas Merton Our days are filled with a series of moments and hours. Sometimes they fly by, sometimes they move slowly, and sometimes … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, optimism
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Joy, Optimism, prayer
2 Comments
Is that all there is?
My husband is hearing Peggy Lee singing “Is that all there is?” in his head. Work is stressful for him, and the long, long hours are difficult. For me and my tutoring, the school year is already underway. The summer … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, God, Life, Optimism
8 Comments
Unchartered territory for me: new mindfulness
Gosh it is Saturday already! Yesterday was my birthday… it was wonderful. If you missed my birthday post and want to see it, the link is right here. https://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/my-day-is-now-yup-its-my-birthday/ Oh how the years have flown by. It is likely that I … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God
Tagged birthday, Faith, Friendship, God
8 Comments
My day is now: yup it’s my birthday
Today I entered a brand new decade. I turned 60. Yep. Just like that, I left my 50s. This past decade was a time of questioning the meaning of my life and the paths I walked. There were so many changes. … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Positive Thinking
Tagged birthday, Faith, family, Friendship, God, Life, memories
25 Comments
The 4th of July: Lessons My Dad the Marine Taught Me
Originally posted on Believe Anyway:
The 4th of July was a big deal in my family. Before breakfast we would “put the flag up”-the whole family would go out to the front yard, we would put up the flag and…
Posted in 4th of July, Family Life and Issues
Tagged 4th of July, family memories, patriotic memories
1 Comment
Do you feel like you are drowning?
Do you hit a point now and then when you feel like you are swimming in a stormy sea, with no dock or safe spot in sight? I think everyone feels that way at some point; we get worn out and … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God
Tagged God, Jesus, overwhelmed, things to do lists
2 Comments
Are you wallowing today?
The thing is, at times we draw our meaning from our role(s) in life and from our associations. What do I mean by our associations? For example, from our immediate family we have ongoing connections. From our extended family we … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, hurt feelings, rejection
4 Comments
Do you have time to serve the Lord?
A Short Speech about Valuing Time This is a repeat of a column I wrote in August of 2012. But this week, I needed to remind myself of the truth in it. Perhaps someone else needs the same reminder. I found … Continue reading
Posted in communication, faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, Health and exercise, Life, time
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I was different; I still am
“I was motivated to be different in part because I was different.” –Donna Brazile I have always marched to my own drummer. You see, I notice trends and movements in the culture. I always have. As a kid, whenever I … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged Faith, friends, Friendship, God
8 Comments
He lifted me up
“I was like a stone lying in the deep mire; and He that is mighty came, and in His mercy lifted me up, and verily raised me aloft and placed me on the top of the wall.” St. Patrick At … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues
Tagged God's help, heartbreak, Jesus, lifes challenges
1 Comment
Thankful for my husband
My husband totally rocks. We have been married for 30 years already. He is a lighthouse, a rudder, a shining beacon. His faith is strong, his love for me is constant. He is faithful and steadfast. He is funny, bright, … Continue reading
Here we are: Thanksgiving’s coming
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day. At last. We shall pause, to give thanks. Despite the shopping rush, the chaos of consumerism and more, we WILL give thanks. We will. My little family will have a lovely time together. I am really, … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues
Tagged Faith, food and recipes, Life
11 Comments
Thankfulness
As we zoom towards Thanksgiving Day, I find myself grateful for so much. I am thankful for my loved ones. I am thankful for my home, my job, my life. I am thankful for my students. “I thank Thee for … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged compassion, Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Life, Thanksgiving
4 Comments
Where were you when our President died?
“The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it–and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.” John Kennedy When Kennedy was inaugurated I was only … Continue reading
Are you at the edge of a cliff?
When I am going through difficulties, I sometimes feel down-hearted. It just wears me down sometimes. But my saying of “believe anyway” needs to be applied, especially during those times. So I muster on. I admit, sometimes I almost literally … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Health and exercise
Tagged cliff, Faith, humor
7 Comments
A week bookended by cousins and one of my brothers
Today is my brother Mike’s birthday. To know him is to love him. He is one of those genuine guys that everyone loves. Why is that? He is loving, respectful and believes that there is no such thing as a … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged family, friends, Love, Maggie Breckner, seasons of the heart, simplicity
3 Comments
Bucket list and a drop in the bucket
Perhaps I am more aware than usual of the passage of time this year. I have a heightened awareness of passages, changes, stages, and phases of life. My husband and I celebrated 30 years of marriage this spring. I have … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues
Tagged bucket lists, family, Love, weddings
4 Comments
Two extraordinary friends
My magical weekend continued on Sunday. I went to Mass and brunch with some dear, dear old friends (Andi and Jerry). We have been friends since my freshman year of college. For a brief, magical time we ended up in … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship
Tagged Courage, Faith, Friendship, hope, reunions
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Believe Anyway 