100 Year Reunion

Really it was just a Mudugno/Fusano family reunion, which we've not had with all of my Dad's extended Italian family in a long time. But at the planning committee, my Dad pointed out that it is, indeed the 100 year anniversary of my grandpa's (Papanan) arrival to the USA.
This is not my usual kind of post- just that I'm excited to see everyone and it's been fun working with a group of cousins on it.
I wonder what we've done to make America a better place.
I think the thicker skin, the ability to laugh at our own ethnicity and the humor has been a boon. We are not a needy special interest group. Maybe not so interesting to many- period. But "thatsa alrighta" Cause we like ourselves.
On a more serious note, I grew up listening to my Nana pray, and when she was old, she told me once, " I worry about the kids, that they don'ta know God. I pray that they know God every daya."
Okay, so my accent isn't so great, but it really impacted me. So I feel like those of us who DO know God have a legacy, and a responsibility to pray for our cousins, nieces, nephews, etc., so that Nana's prayers will be fulfilled.

In Revelation, it talks about "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Rev. 4:8
Then again, "... Another angel.. came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar , which was before the throne.
An the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God.
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth." Rev. 8:3-5
May we fill up the bowls in heaven with our prayers for our loved ones, knowing that they go before God! And may we see His kingdom come and His will be done as the filled bowls get ignited with the fire from heaven and comes down to earth.

In My Backyard

I have a garden in my backyard. I sit on the porch and listen to the chorus of birds, the occasional rooster crowing and far off dog. And I meet with God. I love to sit there.
But my meditations were interrupted by any interesing scene the other day.
And I decided I have a new pet. I've named him Napoleon.
Napoleon is one of many sparrows that come and eat at my bird feeder. I'm happy to say, after many weeks of being absent, they still come, shortly after I refill the feeder.
And then the adorable little leader, Napoleon, lands and proceeds to spin and peck and chirp in the loudest possible chirp for it's tiny size at any other sparrow that tries to land on that feeder.
Eventually, I think he gets hungry enough to ignore a few that sidle their way discreetly down the chain and allows them to eat while he's eating. You really can't eat and guard at the same time, and I'm sure he must tire of his selfish game at times.
But even then, he'll make a surprse attack on any other tiny creature brazen enough to try to make a frontal attack on "his" food. How adorable! (Yes, my tongue is in my cheek)

In the one picture I am holding a feather. While sitting, reading and feeling God's Peace, I saw a feather float from the tree straight to me, sitting in my chair. I just reached out, opened my hand, and it settled. I don't have a great analogy for what it means, but it was really cool.
I really love my backyard!