HOLY THURSDAY

"Can you not spend one hour with me?"

This is what Jesus said to his disciples on Holy Thursday in the Garden of Gethsemane. The next day, Good Friday, was when Jesus was crucified on the Cross.

I am a Roman Catholic -- went through 12 years of Catholic School (eight years, Elementary; four years, High School). But with ALL of my teachings, the profound thing I remember was when I was a little kid in Brooklyn, NY and I went to our parish church, every Holy Thursday from 10-11 PM, with my mother and father and spent one hour there, praying the Rosary -- Hail Mary's and Our Father's and Glory Be's... I went, as a dutiful little girl... not really knowing what it meant.

When I was little, I was just THRILLED to be going out at quarter to 10 at night, walking to Church and getting out of being put to sleep at my regular time! Oooh, it felt so grown up being out at that hour!! Then, one night when I was still young, my father said to me: "Do you know WHY we are going to church for Holy Thursday?" And I said, "Well, I do know the story of Jesus in the Garden and we have to pray with Him!" And my father said: "Yes, and do you know that Jesus asked his disciples to spend time praying with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane and they fell asleep? Jesus was worried about the next day, Good Friday, because He knew what was going to happen. And his disciples didn't even stay awake long enough to pray with Him. THAT'S why you and I and Mommy are going to Church tonight, on Holy Thursday, to show our loyalty to Jesus, and we will be there for Him, and with Him, to keep Him company and pray -- kind of like we were in the Garden of Gethsemane with Him. Jesus asked his disciples, 'Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour in the Garden?' So that is why, Gloria, that we are going to church at this late hour to pray with Jesus, as He did, that long, long time ago. We want to be with Him and show our love and loyalty to Him."

Well, when my "Daddy" really explained it -- WOW. It REALLY made an impression on me. As a little girl, I remember that I felt so badly for Jesus, being by himself and praying by himself! And now, all of these years later, I always remember this, every Holy Thursday, and hold it close to my heart, and always think of my father. I will admit that I might not have gotten to Church on all the Holy Thursdays since then, but I always think of Jesus in the Garden on Holy Thursday -- praying by Himself in the Garden -- and I try to be there with Him in spirit. I am planning on going to my local Catholic church this Holy Thursday with my son.

"Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour in the Garden?"

Even if you can't make it to a church, can you just spend a few minutes thinking of Jesus this Holy Thursday?

Thank you for listening...

Note: If you are reading this and aren't familiar with the story and you'd like to read about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, here is a lovely short synopsis... I chose this because it's for kids and it's short and sweet and NOT boring. :)
Click HERE.

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY EASTER.

Best
Gloria

Shopping -- Marshalls and CTS!

In case you don't know it, I LOVE the Christmas Tree Shops (CTS) and Marshalls for really good deals. I also love Pier 1 and Home Goods but, by the time I get out of Marshalls (which is in the same shopping complex), I've usually spent all of my money at Marshalls! Here are some of the items that I purchased at the CTS and Marshalls recently. First, the Christmas Tree Shop... When I was a teenager, a friend and I visited my cousin in Calif. and she took us to Knott's Berry Farm. We had such a great time! So every time I see anything to do with Knott's Berry Farm, it brings back such good memories. Hence, my purchase of this product! $2.99 -- don't really know if that's a good price or not! Also from the CTS: I bought these Waverly tablecloths, because they were only $12.99 each and they are indoor AND outdoor fabric tablecloths! Thought they would look nice in the Summer for when 'company' comes over. Also from the CTS, these are for using when it's just my son and I eating outside... They are PLASTIC tablecloths! Aren't they pretty for plastic coated? Love the Waverly one. These are just some paper napkins from the CTS -- so pretty -- and the cocktail napkins were only a dollar each, and the larger ones being about $1.69 each. And last from the CTS, two little tealight holders. Only 69 cents each, I believe!

And now, my treasure from Marshalls! I LOVE anything RED. I do not have any little square plates, so when I saw these, I had to get them. Aren't they pretty?

Oh, that little fragrance bottle is a Laura Ashley spray ($2.99) for sheets, etc.

Then I saw these little plates, and had to have them. I thought they were so cute, PLUS they were on sale.

And last, but not least, I saw these rooster plates... I bought them because a long time ago, I purchased 4 reddish plates (you will see them below) and when I saw these little rooster places, I thought they would match nicely with the other large plates I had! What do you think? I tried to ask my son his opinion of them together, and he said, "Rooster plates???" and that was all I got outta him. /:(

Here they are with the bigger plates I already had in back... I think they look pretty together...

I hope you enjoyed seeing my new treasures! And I hope my NY pal, Kathleen--from cuisinekathleen.com --is seeing this! She's another loyal CTS shopper! Click here to get to her blog, it's great! She has wonderful tablescapes, PLUS really wonderful delicious-looking meals of which she posts photos often!

Best, Gloria

Hello, new Follower -- Tami G!

I just wanted to say hello to my newest Follower, Tami G!! I see that you do not have a blog, so I can't visit, and I couldn't get any email for you because it said I couldn't "perform this operation, etc." for some reason -- BUT I do want to thank you SO MUCH and please email me so I can write you and thank you personally! :) Hope you see this message to you! Best, Gloria

Free Valspar Paint Sample Offer...

Greetings! I saw on another blog (and please forgive me, I do not remember the lovely blog person who had done a post on this!) that Valspar is having a give-away for a free paint sample. You also get a $5.00 coupon towards a gallon of Valspar paint, plus a mini roller and paint tray.

Here's the color I got, I want to paint a few "little" things, like a little basket, etc.

It's called: Watermelon Slice. (Against my red background, you can't see it that great, but it is a pretty, bright, vibrant color!)

I know for a fact that it's "closed" for today, but check back in the morning -- They advise that they open at 9 AM Central time. I got mine this morning and got an email that it will be on it's way! Enjoy!

Here's the link: http://www.valsparpaint.com/valpaint/store/fsColorWall.html

Best,

Gloria

Baby twins talking to each other FUNNY

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME UPLOADING A YOU TUBE VIDEO! So I am not doing it the way I wanted it to turn out... I wanted my words before the video, but I am still learning! Anyway, I wanted to take a minute to upload this -- I saw it on the Today Show this morning, and thought it was so funny and thought that those of you who haven't caught it yet would enjoy it! Best, Gloria

APOLOGIES TO MY BLOGGING FRIENDS!!!

I want to say that I am SORRY because I have gotten many emails from friends and comments that I haven't even approved yet, plus comments that I HAVE approved, but haven't gotten a chance to personally reply to all of you kind souls leaving me comments since my being back to blogging after getting my new laptop after six weeks! So I hope that you will forgive me. I have a couple of things I even want to post about and haven't even gotten the chance. I admire all of you who upkeep your blogs! It's tough work! So I am hoping that you bear with me... I will get to all of your emails and comments in the next few days. I am only going to concentrate on YOU this week! I feel blessed that a lot of you have been bearing with me and leaving comments. Those of you who I haven't written to yet, THANK YOU for your friendship. I also have SO many of your blogs to still visit yet! The good Lord will bless you for your patience! I will leave you with the photo below, which I found and I think is SO funny... BUT, I hope that you are NOT thinking this about ME. :)

Best, Gloria

P.S. Photos courtesy of Google!

Come One, Come All -- Come discover a new online shop: THE CHUNKY MERMAID!!!

GRAND OPENING!

Discover a terrific new online shop, opened by one of our own beloved bloggers, and my dear friend: Calamity Anne!!!

Here's Anne:

Anne's shop is named: The Chunky Mermaid -- offering shabby chic wooden signs! To celebrate her opening, Anne is having a wonderful Giveaway. Here's what she is giving away to one lucky person!

And I am also proud to say that I am one of Anne's first customers! I just purchased this sign below from her shop this morning:

Isn't it terrific?? I cannot wait to get it in the mail and put it up in my kitchen.

Here's a couple of other signs below to tempt you to visit Anne's online shop. These are only a small example to show you that she can take one idea, but have many different colors and fonts. She has a wide assortment. She can also 'custom' whatever font, or color, or saying of your choosing! Also, shipping is included in the price. There is one sign there, the first one in her shop, that I absolutely love... It is a sign that would be so lovely to give as a gift for an anniversary or wedding gift or, for purchase for one's own home, of course. Well, you'll see what I mean when you visit Anne's shop! ;)

Here's the two different, yet similar, signs I just spoke about:

And last, but not least, is ANOTHER sign that was done by Anne... NOT currently available for sale in her shop though! Anne custom-made it for me. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this is my token 'saying' that is always coming forth from my lips (which I should be ashamed to admit), but it is now a sign hanging on my wall. I love it!

So please be sure to visit "The Chunky Mermaid" for some great signs! Click on logo below to go directly to the website to check it out and enter the give-away!

Best,

Gloria

== P.S. To visit Anne's regular blog: http://www.calamityanne.com/

THE PRODIGAL BLOGGER RETURNS!!!

Greetings!! I have missed you all!!

Although the picture to the left is of the prodigal son returning, I am using this only as an example... I certainly would not be wearing only a lower skirt and showing my top and legs... Trust me: you would NOT want to see my top and exposed legs. --Although my dyed hair IS that color... :) But I wanted to use this picture in the hopes that my blogging friends will "embrace" my return!!

I FINALLY got a new laptop. My former laptop was too expensive to repair, so I purchased a new one and just received it yesterday. What a fiasco with the old laptop! I've not been able to blog or read emails for well over a month and I have been beside myself. I especially cannot tell you how much I have MISSED all of your blogs that I regularly visit. I have missed all of my dear blogging buddies. I first took the time to clear my "Spam" folder last night and I am now working on my emails. So, although I hope to visit your blogs in the week to come, I KNOW that I will not be able to leave comments on your blogs on old posts -- although I AM going to try to catch up and see what I've missed!! I look forward to seeing what you've all been up to! I hope to do a new post of my own sometime next week also.

In the meantime, I want to say how much I have missed having my laptop in order to visit your blogs. I have so missed keeping up with what's going on in your lives. You are a great bunch of women. I have realized how blessed I have been this past year to be able to read your blogs as you share your lives, your stories, your adventures, your families, your homes. I truly am grateful for all of your friendships, and I am NOT just saying that.

Again, please bear with me for the next week or two as I get myself "up-to-speed!" I will eventually visit all of you!

Until then, I am so happy to be back and I hope you are ready to have yourselves a great Spring to come! Love to you all.

Best,

Gloria

P.S. I also wanted to mention: Today is St. Joseph's Day, March 19th. St. Joseph is one of my favorite saints. I am Catholic... but even if you are NOT Catholic, I am sure you can appreciate Joseph, as he was Jesus' father on Earth... If anyone would like a wonderful St. Joseph's prayer that I have that was my Mother's favorite prayer, please let me know. I will gladly forward it to you.

BLOG HIATUS: Laptop Repair

Dear Fellow Bloggers: My laptop is in need of repair; therefore, I will not be blogging for a while. I am sending it out for repair. I will, hopefully, be back to blogging soon! Until then, take care.

Best,
Gloria

The "CSN Winner" and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Happy Valentine's Day!

and

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CSN WINNER!

The Winner, chosen via Random.org:

#5 - Christine!!

From the blog: "Christine's Home and Travel Adventures"

Congrats, Christine -- it couldn't have happened to a sweeter person, on a sweeter day than Valentine's Day!

Thank you again to all who participated and, hopefully, we will have another CSN give-away in the near future. I hope you all have a wonderful day and receive some nice Valentine's gifts!

Best,

Gloria