Jet Puffed Toys?

The marshmallow is a confection, that is a mixture of sugar, corn syrup, water, gelatin, dextrose, flavorings - all whipped to a spongy consistency.

This definition does not say anything about a marshmallow being a cat toy.

However at our house, right now - a dried up mini-marshmallow is the toy of choice among the cats living with us. They are quite animated - jumping, pouncing, running, patting, swatting......

Engineers work countless hours to design cat toys full of catnip - all kinds of creative things. The walls at the Pet supply store are stocked full of them. Most costing $5.00 or more each!

However, our two cats, who have a box full of various cat toys, prefer only a dried up marshmallow, the milk ring off the gallon jug, a cardboard box lid and an occasional mousie.

Dried up marshmallows...........who would have thought........

Resolutions

From Father Balash - St. Joseph Church Mantua, OH

NEW YEAR'S DAY 2008

Numbers 6.22-27///Galatians 4.4-7///Luke 2.16-21

It is a tradition at this time of year for a lot of people to make resolutions for the New Year…some of the resolutions we make are easily attainable, while others are a bit more difficult to fulfill….when I thought about what I might say on this the first mass of the New Year I thought I might suggest some resolutions as well for all of us as we continue to live our lives and as we continue to strive to become better members of the Body of Christ.

I came up with 10 suggested resolutions….believe it or not…..that might be practical for you, for your families, for all of us to perhaps work towards accomplishing in this New Year.

Resolution #1 --- Cut each other some slack this New Year[how about] making a point to remember that not one of us is perfect….each of us are going to make mistakes; everyone of us is going to have a bad day now and then…yet what a difference our homes might be…if we didn't always pounce on one another when things happen in a way that they are not suppose to….->in other words we might sometimes forget to give phone messages…or put an empty milk carton back in the refrigerator, or mistakenly break a window or a promise…..and this doesn't mean it's alright to do these things, or that there do not need to be consequences…..but what it does mean is that when these things happen….the response needs to be appropriate….and when some one is having a bad day that we recognize that and give them some space….in other words….cut them some slack.

Resolution #2 --- Be polite to one another. Words like "please" and "thank you" need to reenter our vocabulary these days and become habits once again…habits of the head and habits of the heart. Manners however are more than just words…having good manners also means not hogging the bathroom and using all the hot water…not whining about the dinner menu or maliciously teasing others for now reason at all.

Resolution #3 ---takes number 2 one step further…in addition to being polite to one another…resolution 3 is having a generous heart….which means breaking away from our tunnel vision and making the extra effort to see that others are taken care of…like letting someone else control the remote…or clearing the dinner table even on the night when its not your turn.

Resolution #4…perhaps the most important one….EAT TOGETHER THIS YEAR…plain and simple…shut off the television, the computer, the ipods, the gameboys and visit with one another during dinner….how do we expect to be close to one another and care about one another if we don't talk and listen to one another.

Resolution #5 - Underschedule….make this year of 2008 the 12 months without year-round sports for the kids…activities at school and extra assignments at work….at some point this year, for at least a few months…say "no" for a change. Let kids be kids this year…instead of little adults on ridiculously tight schedules and how about if we adults….be a little bit more like the way we were when we were kids…. "forget" the cell phone and pager now and then….do you realize that all of us have lived life much longer without those things than with them…and we survived just fine for all those years.

Resolution #6 --- laugh with one another, and not at one another….nothing more needs to be said about this.

Resolution #7 --- Spend Less….how about we spend less on things and more on people. Spend less on toys and electronic gadgets for children and adults….spend less than you make….--if your family is like most families…your homes are packed with stuff…we live in a society that screams to us "buy, buy, buy….because the more you buy the happier you will be….which simply isn't true. Unfortunately we live in world where we measure people's success by the "things" they possess…but as we all know…that can too quickly and easily lead to being possessed by those things.

Resolution #8…[I call it] the "if you" resolution>if you make a mess…clean it up; if you break it…then fix it, if you take it out, put it back.

Resolution #9 --- Avoid relying on assumptions, guesses, notions or theories…i.o.w. do not assume that the other person knows what you are thinking or feeling….say the words "I am sorry, I love you"….same them often and say them out loud.

Resolution #10….Pray and pray often…in fact pray daily. Pray for each other and with each other….come to Church every Sunday…make it a year without missing Mass even once…ask the [Lord] to bless and protect your family over the next 12 months…pray for each other…and pray for our parish and Church…be actively involved and live the call we have all received.

10 resolutions for us to consider to make life a bit more better…to make our life as Christians and members of the Body of Christ more meaningful and more like Christ. May 2008 be the best for you and for your family…May this new year be filled with God's blessings and peace and may all of us bring that peace and good will to one another…not only now but throughout the coming 12 months…..Happy New Year to you!

We are blessed.

Perhaps one of my resolutions should be to blog more often! Some of my blogger friends post almost daily - putting my feeble efforts to shame!

But today I have been once again reminded of the many blessings of my life. It began when I started sorting out clothes and doing laundry. I went through some of my stuff and decided to put some of it in the "giveaway" pile.

I had donated in December to the Homeless Vets in Cleveland - an organization that takes care of our dear veterans who find themselves without a warm home and a place to get a shower - get some clean clothes and a hot meal. These are then provided for them. I crocheted scarves and hats for this organization for Christmas - it just breaks my heart to think of these men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom and now they are out in this terrible cold......it brings tears to my eyes.

Meanwhile, I had begun to participate in the KentRavenna Freecycle group on Yahoo. I had picked up a few things from different people - and decided to see if anyone wanted my stuff.

I listed some clothes - some nightgowns - some shoes - a clock radio. Items I didn't wear anymore - hadn't worn in years.....

And my goodness - the response. I could have given away everything 5 times over. And the stories that people emailed me - just broke my heart. The need is so great.

From people who need clothes - to people who need food. That is why my husband and I try to help out with the Angel Food ministry at our church http://www.angelfoodministries.com/.

Despite all the many things we think we need - Cliff and I continue to realize how much "excess" we have compared to most people in our area.

Plain and simple. We are so blessed. Tremendously blessed.

And so we continue to clean out closets - asking ourselves if we really need all these clothes - all this stuff - and do what little we can to ease another's suffering.....and perhaps in some small way we minister Christ to these people whose lives we touch briefly.

It's funny how God can take those little seeds we plant and find the fertile ground and bring someone full circle into his grace and presence.

May you realize how tremedously blessed you are this day - and I pray you will seek ways to meet the needs around that you can. Perhaps this should be a resolution we all can consider.