Last week was a whirlwind because of our out-of-town visitors. My sister Jo, her son Frank, and his two sons vacationed in California. The main purpose of the trip was for Jo to finally visit the Grand Canyon, something that has been the desire of her heart for years.

Colton

On a whim, it was decided that we would drive to Colton. Frank wanted to relive all the nostalgic places that he visited in his youth, like the Country Boy Market (now a dollar store), our mother’s home and the place where he and his cousins walked for a special treat of ice cream. Colton remains the small town that I remember, but for at least an hour Frank wanted to find the drugstore that sold the ice cream. Although the area is only two square miles, we drove around for what seemed to be an eternity; but we never found the elusive drugstore. From there we visited our older brother Robert’s gravesite.

We also made arrangements to visit our 98-year-old Tia Maria at our cousin Delia’s home. I pray that when I get to be her age, I will have the same sharp mind and attitude that she has.

Amusement Parks

While Frank and his sons spent two days at amusement parks, Jo and I found our own adventures. Our first outing was to St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon. On our first attempt we never found the abbey; that day was a maze of misguided GPS directions, so we gave up and accepted defeat. The following day after Mass, we finally made it to St. Michael’s Abbey. Both Jo and I were in total awe of the grand, majestic church and its surroundings. There is something mystical on that hallowed ground and I look forward to attending a service there.

Shopping

Thursday was set aside for shopping at the retailers in Cabazon Outlets, one of the largestes discount malls in California. The weather took an ugly turn, and I had never experienced cold temperatures like this. This is an outdoor mall in the low desert. But when we made our way to different shops, it started to snow. I was not dressed for this rude spell that Mother Nature surprised us with. I was shivering in my thin layered raincoat, while Jo was prancing around in the long camel hair coat that she borrowed from me. “Hey, do you want to trade coats?” I asked her. “Absolutely not!” she answered. I offered my suffering up to the Lord and continued to shiver.

We had to meet our brothers and their families for dinner at 6 p.m. So by the time we had finished shopping, we were cutting it close. I made an announcement that I needed to change into warmer clothes, so we needed to go to the place where we were staying. My nephew Frank wanted to go straight to the restaurant, but I won that battle. We were to meet at Las Casuelas, a popular Mexican restaurant in Palm Desert. The day before I had received a group text message informing us that the location of the restaurant had changed. Since I do not open group text messages, I only read the first line. It read Las Casuelas. It turned out that we were an hour late for our dinner because Las Casuelas has three restaurants with the same name on the same street! We went to the wrong one! Mass confusion ensued, and I was in a panic scrambling to find the last text message.

Our brothers George and Mike and their families were gracious as we tried to explain the situation. I knew all along that I was going to take the fall. How can anyone make an excuse for being late one hour? I quickly ordered a Margarita and sat next to my cousin Nellie, who warned me “You’re going to get drunk if you drink that!”  I was still thawing out from the cold and felt guilty. Guilt makes you do stupid things, and after drinking only half of the Margarita, I suddenly became more talkative. I even gave a quick tutorial on how to tie a scarf. I explained that I learned this at the University of Tiktok.  It was wonderful visiting with our family, although out of seven siblings we’re now only five.

Arizona

My husband Mike  did all the driving, in  Jonah, my Prius. The following morning we left for Arizona to pick up our sister Norma, while Frank picked up his wife Lindy at the Phoenix International Airport. We decided to meet in Flagstaff. We arrived  just in time for dinner. Red Lobster has the best bread, but that’s about it. It was Friday and since we are in Lent I ordered fish and chips. To describe this meal would say that I would have been better off going through the trash dumpsters. As usual  I ordered the wrong meal,  and poor Norma followed my lead.

The Grand Canyon

We were all up early to catch the train to Williams for the grand finale of the trip. The Grand Canyon did its due diligence and commanded the most breathtaking views. The weather received the memo to stay clear for our visit as well. Finally, Jo’s wish came true!  That night we dined with a wonderful turkey dinner with all the trimmings. With so much turkey left over, I made sandwiches for the road.

The Weather 

After dinner we said our goodbyes to Frank, Lindy and the boys. Jo was going to ride back with us to drop Norma off, while Frank and his family drove to a hotel near the Phoenix airport. Around two o’clock in the morning, the snow made an unwelcoming appearance. Mike could not sleep because he was worried about getting snow chains. The plan was to leave at six a.m., but many of the roads were closed. By 8:30 a.m. it was clear enough for us to start our treacherous trip back home. Mike’s instructions were, “Please don’t pick any fights with your sisters, and try not to talk too much.”  I was the navigator, so this was going to be a challenge. During the first leg of the trip, we were traveling 23 miles per hour. As much as I find driving next to semi-trucks annoying, this time I welcomed them because they were paving the road for us.

As soon as we got out of the snow, Norma started the conversation about her 21- year-old cat Boi; she was worried that he may have died. “What am I going to do? I don’t even own a shovel! He better not have died on my bed!”  Well, much to her surprise, Boi was the welcoming committee! The cries of the old cat brought joy to my sister, and we all gathered around to pet the elderly tabby.

Birthday Party

Mike and I had to be at a birthday party for Will, Sonja and Jacob at 6 p.m.  How Mike puts up with me is a mystery because he drove straight through, making only two pit stops. We made it home by five, got ready, wrapped the gifts and were at the restaurant at exactly six o’clock. We were the only ones there because I did not open the group text informing us that the reservations were for 6:30!

My Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank You for Jo’s visit and all the joy that she brought with her. I pray for all of my siblings and their families.  Please keep us safe, and may we always have You in our midst. Amen.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus’ song Flowers is a song about revenge and self-love. The lyrics expose her raw emotions following the break-up of her marriage to her husband Liam Hemsworth. It quickly shot up to number one on the Billboard charts.

I had experienced five days of restless nights. After attending Mass Thursday morning I received the revelation as to why. We Catholics have many feast days; Thursday was the Presentation of our Lord. The providence of God with this special day comes two fold. On Wednesday our Bible study subject was from Luke Chapter 2, the Presentation of The Lord. Our Blessed Mother Mary had to go through the Old Testament rituals of purification.  Thursday’s Mass reading was the same verse we studied! The second connection? For the past 33 days I have been preparing my spirit through prayer for the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Thursday, the same day that Joseph and Mary presented Jesus in the Temple, was my actual day of Consecration to Jesus. The connection is divine because I had no idea that these two days would coincide with the completion of my prayers.

The Attack

Because I suffer greatly from environmental allergies, I asked Mike to purchase Flonase, an antihistamine to relieve my problem.  I take an over-the-counter allergy pill on a regular basis, but due to all the rain and mold in the air, my body suffered with itchy eyes, and itchy face, neck and head. I felt like an abandoned street dog loaded with fleas. Right before going to bed I took a good dose of the Flonase in each nostril. I organized my four pillows as usual: the Euro sham I set on a chair; and the decorative pillow I use as support so that the bed does not eat my regular pillows. The last two pillows I form into an  “T” shape; it’s a long ritual but it works. But this time, my heart started beating at an accelerated rate, and I kept readjusting the pillows, I was miserable!

The Spiritual Battle

After Jesus’ Baptism Satan attacked Him in the desert. This temptation occurred right before the beginning of His earthly ministry. Jesus fasted for 40 days; He was hungry. Satan knew how weak our Lord was, so he took the opportunity to tempt Him. (Matthew 4:1-11). 

Satan attacks us when we are physically vulnerable. Our minds give into the pain, because we are too weak to pray. This is when we need others to intercede on our behalf.

The Clock

We have this beautiful, antique pendulum clock that needs rewinding. Our grandson Jacob decided that we should wind up the old girl and put her to use. At first the chiming was charming, a welcoming sound – but that shortly changed. Because of my restless nights, the clock turned into an evil reminder, taunting me that I was still awake. At twelve midnight it sounded 12 times and then once on the half-hour. Of course if I can’t sleep neither can Mike; all my tossing and turning wakes him up. “I can’t sleep!” I cried out. Mike tried to calm me down by telling me that I’m too busy, that I have too many things on my mind. I answered, “Maybe it’s that stupid Flonase, maybe I took too many sniffs!” Mike replied, “You know that stuff cost $50 at Costco.”  I told him,”You need to return it, it’s making me crazy!” Poor Mike.

Flowers In My Head

I grab the special Rosary on my night stand and start to pray. Then the song  Flowers by Miley Cyrus starts playing in my head! “I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand, talk to myself for hours,” etc! With all my mental might I tried to block out the lyrics with a Hail Mary, but to no avail. Over and over again this song tormented my mind and deprived me of much needed sleep. When I finally thought my mind was at ease, the stupid clock would scream loudly with it’s chiming!

The Sacrifice

The Consecration to Jesus through Mary is a daily set of prayers that I needed to set aside special time for. These are long prayers that some days required having to recite the Rosary. So after daily Mass I dedicated time to pray and I did this faithfully for 33 days.  I can proudly announce that I followed all the proper prayers and was ready to consecrate, but then I read that I had to go to confession before the consecration.

My Confession

I praise God that Fr. Gregory was hearing confessions. After Mass I quickly got into line. I was so relieved that there were only two people ahead of me. On the 34th day it was time for the consecration.

The Attack Before The Blessing

Sometimes there are things that we go through that cannot be explained. I believe that the sleep deprivation occurred because I was preparing for the Consecration. It was a means to distract me from the daily prayers. Satan knows that he can’t stop the blessings, but he will do everything in his power to attempt to spoil it. I thank God that we serve a God Who gives us only as much as we can bear. After the Consecration my sleep pattern has returned to normal.

1 Corinthians 10:13    New American Bible (Revised Edition)

As Christians we should all be striving for a holy life. Before we receive the coveted title of saint, we must go through life’s journey. My journey is solely mine; no one can join me on this expedition. I had to endure many hard lessons to reach the maturity I have today; the journey continues from my childhood until now. As a child I learned many lessons; growing up in Brawley, a sleepy, small farm town protected us from the dangers of the world. I knew which side of the playground to stay on. A handful of bad kids isolated themselves near the chainlink fence to sniff glue. The teachers were oblivious to this activity because they were unaware of the potential harm.  Besides these were Mexican boys, so the teachers were indifferent.

Two Johns

After my parents separated I felt a sense of freedom; joy returned to my heart and though our mother feared the uncertain, God always watched over us.  I liked two boys named John. John Number One was the first boy I went on a group date with.  He lived within the city limits, so when he came calling, he had a long distance to walk because I lived in a rural area. For my birthday that summer, John gave me an album “Aftermath” by my favorite group, the Rolling Stones.

I must have lied to my mother because I went to the movies with a group of friends.  This was the first time a boy kissed me. It was not a memorable experience because I was not ready to be a girlfriend. The entire situation was awkward. I didn’t really like this John as much as I liked the other John.  In my small middle school mentality I thought for certain that I was going to marry John Number Two. When we moved up north to be near my mother’s family,  John Number One’s life took a cruel turn; he became heavily involved in drugs and died of a heroin overdose at the age of 15.

I often wondered why John Number One’s journey took such a tragic turn. What makes the human heart fall into such a deep abyss? Why did God allow this to happen to him? I thought of his family and how they must have suffered after losing someone in such a tragic manner. The Enemy was present during John’s journey. He deceived John into believing his high with heroin was acceptable and pleasurable. He thought the euphoria that the drug provided would give him pleasure and fill the void that was missing in his life.

Back in the 60’s heroin was a scary word, so  when anyone talked about this addiction it was done in secret. All that I knew about this heinous drug was that once you got hooked it was over. It was over because back in the day, there was little help, if any. Rehab facilities were only for the very wealthy, not for people like us. If you were going to kick the habit, it was done “cold turkey.” One of my older cousins became a heroin addict. After much struggle, he took the “cold turkey” road and this changed the trajectory of his life.

Walking Away From The Enemy

My cousin moved up north and started a new life. He started a new career and became an excellent handball player. He beat the odds and won the respect of many. He was lost but he found his way back. I know my aunt had spent many hours in prayer on behalf of her wayward son. Because she never gave up, her prayers  pulled him out of that pit of despair.

Smoking Weed, Marijuana, Cannabis

Today because of the Enemy’s many disguises, it’s tough to walk away from this drug. In California smoking marijuana is legal but the facts and side effects about this drug have not changed. It deadens your brain cells; but don’t worry because it’s also used for medicinal purposes. If you’re young, the temptation is there for the taking.

According to WebMD, smoking marijuana is dangerous; one in ten people who use it become addicted. The statistics are higher if you are a teen; one in six will become addicted.

California’s Weed Laws

After researching I found it interesting that all these cannabis laws were written by Democrats. They continue, working diligently to turn our state into a pit of hell. AB 2188, a new law known as NORML will go into effect in January 2024. This law will protect the rights of the pot-heads at work. NORML was written to prevent any discrimination by their employers. No more urine tests!

The University of California Berkeley operates a cannabis research program. According to its director, Ted Granthan, California has only 8,000 permitted cannabis farms but the scientists have mapped over 15,000 cannabis farms in Humboldt County alone. How can our state regulate so many illegal cannabis farms? They can’t and they don’t! This cannabis is sold on the black-market. Where do these growers of cannabis get water to irrigate their crops? In Northern California many of these farmers get water from the over stressed streams to water their plants, without any regulation of water usage.

Cannabis Farms

As I write this Blog, I now have a greater understanding as to why our state is inundated with the highest homeless population in the country. When I served the homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles, most of them smoked pot. The streets reeked of marijuana.

John Number One started his drug  journey with pot and quickly graduated to heroin, the mother drug from Hell. Now in my old hometown of Brawley, hemp is being grown.

We can’t walk in the darkness, yet we are clouded by the dissension of those who fail to walk in the light. Jesus is the ray of heavenly light, and He has all the answers. (John 8:12) He is the consolation and strength for those who seek Him. For this reason, it is our responsibility as Christians to pray for our elected officials more than ever. It does us no good to fuel the fire of anger at the morass that our beautiful state has been dragged through. We were once a safe haven noted for our state’s natural beauty. Her golden skin is now tarnished with the sins of our lawmakers.

My Prayer

Lord, I ask that You bring the luster and beauty back to our Golden State. I pray a mighty hand of conviction on any lawmaker who is not representing the proper needs of our state. Lord, place in our hearts a spirit to pray for all of our political leaders. Amen.