Petit a' petit, l'ouiseau fait son nid.: Patio Pals

Last night I enjoyed a balmy evening in the company of some very good friends. We sat around the table on the patio, amidst the tiki torches and candles. Sans children. Sans husbands. We chatted and giggled and had a nice, relaxing evening.

Credit to Elizabeth from A Bit of Sunshine

I CHOOSE LOVE . . . .
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.
I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY . . .
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker.
I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.
I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE . . .
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE . . .
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so.
Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.
Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS . . .
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.
And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS . . .
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.
I will be overlooked before I will boast.
I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS . . .
Today, I will keep my promises.
My family and friends will not question my word.
My spouse will not question where my loyalties lie.
My children will never wonder if I will be here for them.
I CHOOSE GENTLENESS . . .
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL . . .
I am a spiritual being . . . After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control.

A Prayer

O God, the father of mankind,
Who has given me these, my children,
And committed them to my charge to bring them up for You,
And to prepare them for life everlasting;

Assist me with Your heavenly grace,
That I may be able to fulfill my sacred duty and stewardship.
Teach me both what to give and what to withhold,
When to reprove and when to praise.

Make me gentle, yet firm, considerate and watchful,
And deliver me equally from the weakness of indulgence and the excess of severity.

Grant that both by work and example,
I may be careful to lead them in the way of wisdom
And true piety; so that at last I may,
With them, be admitted to the joys of our true home in heaven.
Amen.

Petit a' petit, l'ouiseau fait son nid.

Our new little daughter!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Patio Pals

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A Prayer