Scatter the flowers

  "Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do." ~ St. Thomas Aquinas,     Thrice.  A magical number.  Research experiments are repeated three times to validate and verify. "Triangulate your evidence" was a phrase I used often in math class. If you recognize something that has bothered you three times, you find a solution for it.  Lionel Richie says you're three times a lady.  Lynyrd Skynyrd only needed three steps towards the door.  Don't forget the three coins in the fountain probably thrown by the three amigos.  And I would be remiss if I did not mention the delicious tres leches dessert.  OK, I'll stop. So what's the big deal about the number three? Well, besides the fact that it represents stability, the three primary colors, and defines the three dimensions we all live in, we put our faith in the Trinity.   Speaking...

  "The world needs strong women.  Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved.  Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will." ~unknown "I'm tired and I don't care anymore".  Whaaaat? Those words have never come out of my mouth or floated in my head.  Not as an exhausted mom of 3 young kids; not as an 8th grade math teacher who just can't take it anymore in October, February and May; not as a small business owner attempting to get bookkeeping records to my accountant, every year at this time.  Never.   These words may have been offered up by me (and I'm guessing some of you) as a gesture of just plain giving up, surrendering all care, and admitting defeat in whatever the battle is.  Because I was just too darn exhausted.  Not exactly "indomitable will". Not the best battle tactic.  But how do we fight fatigue and our weak lackadaisical responses? Here we are in Women's History Month ...

  "We must warn the nations of the world that they must repent and turn to God while there is yet time." ~Billy Graham As a mom of three kids, I remember the challenge of chores, mealtime, then later homework.  My son gave me little resistance because he just wanted to get everything done so he could go out and play.  He used to say he didn't want to get older because he would have to work and couldn't play.  He knew how good kids have it.  Adulting - sometimes it's hard. Then, in a fleeting moment, all my kids were adults.   And "adult" things happened-major ones like the Columbine tragedy, Sept. 11, Hurricane Katrina, the Covid pandemic.    And more recently, wars, rumors of wars, more natural disasters, more killings.  This week we said 'no more' to a heinous, cruel, anti-Christ, anti-American and anti-Israel regime.  There is the possibility they may strike back.  How do we process it all? When things happening on the other...