Armfuls of Time

Rediscovered this book today.

And, 

man-oh-man,

was it exactly perfect timing.

Blessed be.

.          *           .

2 Christmases, 19 years apart

A beautiful Moma and her dear girl, 

watched over and held by Mama Grace 

and the angels... 

Still. 

❤️❤️

As is sometimes the case with me, she says with a soft smile, this one holds more 

vulnerable truth than I'm ready to share on my FB "living room" wall.

We had a mighty rough go in the 19 years between these two photos, my Moma and I. 

But in the end? The stars aligned in such a way that we were able to make peace before 

she died just 13 short days after the photo on the right on Epiphany (Jan. 6).

Between that and the discovery of my bone cancer on Dec. 14 (and my parents' divorce 

8 days before on Dec. 6), I think that's part of why I so adore Advent. It's a season that 

not only acknowledges, but honors the waiting we humans do which is sometimes an 

aching l-o-n-g-i-n-g for things that just aren't possible... in this moment.

But, 

she says with a soft smile, 

that doesn't mean that healing will never come. 

Ah, yes. It can and it does. 

(Right, Moma?) 

(and Mama Grace?)

(Right, Baby Girl.)

❤️❤️

.             *             .

St. Joseph, Pray for Us

With my Daddy's name being Joseph, 

and all of his 5 daughters 

being affectionately called by our first name plus "Jo," 

and his son being named Joseph, too, 

I've come to think of St. Joseph 

as our family's personal patron saint.

It brought a warm smile 

to realize this evening 

that this is the 5th St. Joseph 

I've been this close to in the last 11 days.

St. Joseph, 

pray for us 

and please continue to guide 

and watch over us. 

 Amen. 

🙏🏻

.         *        .