It’s been a trying day. The kind of day when you really need the support of your friends. And I have the most wonderful friends in the world. I have been receiving the most beautiful, uplifting messages from them and am feeling their prayers surround my family.

A few minutes ago, there was a knock on the door. I honestly thought “Oh, Lord… Please let it be good news. I’ve had all the challenge I can pray on for a day”. And then I opened the door. And it was my neighbor Kathy with the most luscious arrangement of roses from my dear friend Jennifer. They are the color of new beginnings, they are 12 perfect pearls that remind me that those gates of Heaven are my goal, not any Earthly pursuit.

Jen’s message is an unction for my soul and the butterfly attached to the card reminds me that we will come through this temporary difficulty just as surely as He rose on the third day.

Yes, I am truly loved. I am blessed to have friends. They are gifts, they are sent to help each soul on its way Home.

To our dear friend, Father Augustine Measures, OSB, who turns 80 today!

You have blessed us so much with your friendship and prayers. We look forward to our daily homily in the e-mailbox, and it is a joy to share you with others. May you have many more happy birthdays. We love you!

Simple Gifts from Appalachian Spring, part of Alan Copland’s Symphony for the Common Man. I love this piece of music. It really is how “Simple Gifts” got its name. You will see some beautiful work in this video. I was a dancer as a young lady, so this piece is particularly special for me.

Enjoy!

was spent here at Bury St. Edmunds, near where we lived. We enjoyed visiting the ducks with bags of day-old bread and walking among the old stone walls.

The Abbey Gardens are situated on the site of a 7th century Benedictine Abbey, now in ruins. It’s really striking to see the old and new together.

You can see here the “Chicken and Teapot”, just two of the interesting structures left to wander through. In the previous photo you can see two columns that stand side by side like sentinels.

Inside the cathedral, there is a feast for the eyes, as well as for the soul. These prayer cushions are hand-stitched. Not as lovely as the ones at Ely, but beautiful all the same - and each one different.

Imagine the choir filled with starched white ruffs and crimson robes on Sunday morn, the angelic sound of voices raised in praise. I always think of the boys choir heading acroos a market square for vespers at another Cathedral in Peterborough, what a beautiful sight.

The sunlight streaming though these Victorian stained-glass windows, depicting the creation of our first parents Adam and Eve, is breathtaking. I especially love all of the curving lines used in the pieces, something that older glass pieces could not seem to achieve.

This tapestry tells the story of the Martyrdom of St. Edmund, who refused to deny his Christianity after being captured by Vikings. He was beheaded and later laid to rest on the site of the Cathedral which now bears his name.

The altar cloth is an exquisite example of needlework, using quilting and embroidery together. The colors are deliciously jewel toned. Notice the lilies, or perhaps they’re daffs?

After a visit to the Cathedral and Abbey Gardens, it’s time for a lovely Sunday lunch at The Angel, directly over the road.

I’ve enjoyed sharing with you some of my memories of England. I cherish them. They are wonderful gifts that I can pull out, and be transported by, anytime. These images and my reminiscences are a window into my heart.

Mary Rose Lussier, Brian’s Memere, passed away into the arms of Our Lord last night. Thanks be to God. Thanks to you all for your prayers, I’m certain it helped her pass peacefully.

Eternal Rest grant unto Mary Rose, Oh Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Will now be played by me. This is quite a departure. What I mean by that is that I have been balancing my domestic duties with entrepreneurship for all 16 years of my marriage. Both our children and enterprises have grown in number.

Business enterprises have a way of overtaking all else, and one must be very careful. And often times, despite great care, it can overwhelm. The key is to delegate what you can, and get rid of anything else that hinders the primary vocation. We had one particular venture that was threatening to swallow me whole - and had no possibility of integrating with the raising of my children. That is, I could not make any part of it an education for the children - not without a monumental effort. So I laid my burden before God and my darling husband. I have been excused of any duties pertaining to that venture, and have been made free to pursue with complete dedication, my vocation as mother and wife.

We found that many of the “little things” were being neglected. You know, small, insignificant things like regular, home-cooked meals, mama-made clothes, orderliness, sink-your-teeth-in reading and nature walks, cuddle time among others. Things that are so very important to me. Things that are essential for the children to have. Things, it turns out, that are also very neccessary to Brian.

Having a settled, traditional home is of prime importance to him. It gives him a firm foundation, an emotional place to come for rest and rejuvenation. If Papa has a place to rest his heart and mind, he is calm and capable. He can meet his fatherly obligations with renewed energy and focus.

Yes, I know. You knew that already. So did I, but theory and practice are two different things. My challenge is to keep outside distrations in their proper perspective, to stop worrying about not contributing enough to help my husband (who has been blessed by God with amazing talents, stamina, and opportunities). My primary function is lover of my children’s hearts and nuturer of their souls and minds.

Popped into my head once again. I have wondered over and over how wonderful it would be if Catholics were all citizens of Vatican City State. You know, when you have received the Sacrament of Baptism, or perhaps after Confirmation, citizenship would be conferred.

That would be pretty neato, I think. Of course, all one billion of us would have a bit of trouble finding room should all of us venture home together… Alas, the fatal flaw in the plan is revealed.

Sixteen years ago today, I married my best friend…

In a beautiful Church surrounded by loved ones…

With a beautiful Mass…

(That’s Monsignor James Moroney, the (now) Director of the Secretariat of the Liturgy at USCCB celerating)

Wearing a gown that I pray will bless many future Gadbois brides…

It’s been a wonderful journey so far…

Amy’s scan is back and she’s clear of cancer. Please, please keep those prayers coming - pour it on. We want Amy to stay this way for a long, long, long time forever! God is so good!

…and service. Lloyd Goldtstein is a special person. He is a bassist who plays for patients at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa Bay, including our own dear Amy. He is much more than just a musician, he is a healer. He uses his gift to bless patients, and his playing is much more than an act of service and love. It is a prayer. His music is a prayer which is prayed aloud by him, through his instrument and prayed in silent agreement by the patient, and by anyone else blessed to hear it. Prayer is powerful medicine, and more powerful still the more of us there are joined together in that prayer.

Here is a sample of Lloyd’s music. And he is also a fine writer, a writer whose work is also prayerful and poetic. This article after a visit in April is particularly moving. I suspect the patient is someone we know.

The sound of Lloyd’s bass is surely a sweet, sweet sound in His ear. It reminds me of this hymn by Laurie Klein:

I Love You, Lord

I love you, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul rejoice!

Take joy my King
In what You hear
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.

Please keep praying for Amy. She is currently undergoing her 4th round of chemo, having just completed a round of radiation. She is truly an inspiration. She is positive and faithful and strong. She is a beautiful example of Faith in Action!

Yes, the world needs more people like Amy and Lloyd. Service, strength, faith… and music. God bless them both - and us all!