Hello Moon! Grace and Choosing Light!

I wrote the following story for my blog, adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com on Friday, November 7, 2025 - Have a blessed week!

Hello out there! Blessings to you and yours on this beautiful fall day! Did y'all see the full moon two nights ago! I love watching for the moon in the evenings. The back of our home faces east so Jim and I are able to see the moon as it slowly rises above. I always say, "Hello Moon!" God's creation is so amazing! 

A couple of days ago I picked up one of my granddaughters after school. Our adventure for the afternoon was learning how to make Spanish Rice. I found a recipe the day before and made sure I had all the ingredients. We made the rice, it turned out great, and we couldn't believe how easy it was! She loves to watch Christmas movies so we turned on the first, "Prep and Landing" while the rice was cooking on the stove top. It's a really cute movie and is only about twenty-five minutes long. One of the things I liked was the cute phrases they used for emphasis, such as, "Holly Jolly, "Figgy Pudding" and "Roasting Chestnuts"!

When I was in the fourth grade, I made a new friend. And I learned some new words! My parents did not use bad language, and there was no cussing in our home. The words I decided to try out in front of my dad were, crap and dang. He was in the garage meddling and I said something like, "well crap" and what is that dang thing. My dad raised is head and asked me why I was talking like that. I told him all about my new friend and how she told me that those weren't really cuss words so we could say them. He informed me that cuss words or not, I didn't need to say them and there were better words for me to use! I wasn't very happy about that so I asked him if I could say darn and crud instead. Of course I don't remember the entire conversation, but he was trying to concentrate on what he working on, so he agreed that yes, that was fine. After awhile of me using those words in every possible sentence my mother basically told me to, "Cut it out!" That friendship didn't last very long!

A Christmas Story is a 1983 Christmas comedy film directed by Bob Clark. It was based on the 1966 book, In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd. This movie came out the day after Thanksgiving in 1983. We took Jim's young son, my bonus son, to see that movie. I was pregnant at the time. The movie was so funny and it has always been special because, "our boys" were with us! That movie was a big hit and is a Christmas Classic. There was one scene where the young star of the show gets his mouth washed out with soap for using a "really bad cuss word"! The whole movie is about family, very nostalgic, and will make you laugh. 

Wouldn't it be great if people watched what kind of language they use now adays? Sometimes I think, O Lord, there is not enough soap in the world for the words that are thrown around so loosely right now. I'm guilty of using some of the "minor cuss words" every now and then.  I made a decision this morning when I was walking and praying and spending some quality time with God! I decided that it was time, as my mother said, to cut it out! When I'm upset or agitated, I should just humbly say, "Lord help me" or "Lord have mercy" and think before I speak! I wonder how much better we would all get along if we cried out to our Lord instead of spouting off ugly words ad nauseum. 

November is a month full of memories and thanksgiving. As Catholics, we celebrate All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day on November 2nd, remembering and praying for our dearly departed. On November 11th we celebrate Veterans' Day as we remember those who died serving our country, those who are still serving our country, and those who have passed away. Families and friends will gather on the 4th Thursday of November to celebrate Thanksgiving together. I pray that you and yours will be blessed with wonderful memories, and that grace and peace will flow through your homes. 

I'll close with the second verse from the hymn, "Prayer of St. Francis"

Make me a channel of your peace. Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope.

 Where there is darkness only light, and where there's sadness ever joy.

 O Master, grant that I may never seek so much to be consoled, as to console,

to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love with all my soul.

Peace and blessings to you and yours,
near and far, wherever you are!
Bye for now, Sharla