crazyacres...: November 2023

Thursday, November 30, 2023

I still enjoy reading. Maybe I’ll start writing?

Gosh wouldn’t it be great to give an update on the crazyacres clan? I think I’ll work on that! I would expect it to be easy to add photos but I don’t see how. Interesting. I was once quite competent at this. I will keep trying!

: Name: Renee

I am trying to live in an authentic manner, in charity, and with an open hand. Wife, mom, artist, Eastern Catholic, wanting to shed the clutter!

View my complete profile

More About Me

I am an iconographer, wife, Eastern Rite Catholic, homeschooling mom to nine children ages 19, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 3, and 1, gardener of my 3 crazy acres, and servant of God. These are not in order of importance =). You can e-mail me at renee.wiesner at gmail dot com.

Favorite Posts

14 years and counting...
Dread and Joyful Anticipation
Johnny to the Rescue
Ever have a party because your room was finally clean?
Turning Point
News flash
Construction Ahead

St. Paraskeva Icon Studio

Updated Occasionally

What is making me happy today

Putting energy into this space again.

Quote of the
Month Year

A Christian home overflows its boundaries; it is an outpost of the kingdom of God, where the hungry are fed and the naked are clothed and there is room enough for everyone." from Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life.

Words of Wisdom

There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control over its development, and to make it available in large quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame. Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. And fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived in vulnerability, community is the fruit born through shared brokenness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one another's wounds. Let's remind one another that what brings us true joy is not successfulness but fruitfulness.
~Henri Nouwen

More Words of Wisdom

Growing into the Truth We Speak

Can we only speak when we are fully living what we are saying? If all our words had to cover all our actions, we would be doomed to permanent silence! Sometimes we are called to proclaim God's love even when we are not yet fully able to live it. Does that mean we are hypocrites? Only when our own words no longer call us to conversion. Nobody completely lives up to his or her own ideals and visions. But by proclaiming our ideals and visions with great conviction and great humility, we may gradually grow into the truth we speak. As long as we know that our lives always will speak louder than our words, we can trust that our words will remain humble.
~Henri Nouwen

Psalm 50

O God have mercy on me in the greatness of Your love; in the abundance of Your tender mercies wipe out my offense. Wash me thoroughly from malice and cleanse me of my sin. For I am well aware of my malice and my sin is before me always. It is You alone I have offended, I have done what is evil in Your sight, Wherefore You are just in Your deeds and triumphant in Your judgment. Behold I was born in iniquities and in sins my mother conceived me. But You are the lover of truth: You have shown me the depths and secrets of Your wisdom. Wash me with hyssop and I shall be pure, cleanse me and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and feasting: the bones that were afflicted shall rejoice. Turn your face away from my offenses and wipe off all my sins. A spotless heart create in me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit in my breast. Cast me not afar from Your face, take not Your blessed Spirit out of me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and let Your guiding Spirit dwell in me. I will teach Your ways to the sinners and the wicked shall return to You. Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, my saving God, and my tongue will joyfully sing Your justice. Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will delare Your praise. Had You desired sacrifice, I would have offered it, but You will not be satisfied with whole-burnt offerings. Sacrifice to God is a contritie spirit: a crushed and humbled heart God will not spurn.

My Award

A Prayer for the Suffering

Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the old and the young, the poor and the destitute, the orphans and widows, those suffering from spiritual, mental and physical illnesses, those in misfortune, tribulation and sorrow, those held captive or sent into exile and especially on those of Your servants who are suffering persecution for Your sake. Visit, strengthen, comfort and heal them and by Your power quickly grant them relief, freedom and deliverance. (+)

The Prayer of St. John of Kronstadt

O Lord, grant that with Your peace I may greet all that this day is to bring. Grant me grace to surrender myself completely to Your Holy Will. In every hour of this day instruct me and guide me in all things. Teach me to accept tranquilly whatever tidings I may receive during this day, in the firm belief that Your Holy Will governs all. Govern my thoughts and feelings in all that I do and say. When unforseen things occur, let me not forget that all is sent by You. Teach me to behave sincerely and reasonably toward everyone, so that I may bring confusion and sorrow to no one. Bestow on me, O Lord, stregth to endure the fatigue of the day and to bear my part in its events. Guide my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to suffer, to forgive and to love. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

O Heavenly King, Consoler, Spirit of Truth, Who art in all places, and fillest all things. Treasury of Goodness and Giver of Life, come and take up Thine abode amongst us. And cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.

crazyacres...

Thursday, November 30, 2023

I still enjoy reading. Maybe I’ll start writing?