by pattyptakkogutek | Feb 19, 2019 | inspiration
For the first time in 3 months I was able to put my underpants on standing up! (I usually don’t share this personal routine, but it happened to be an AHA moment. God does work in mysterious ways.) Before my hip surgery/recovery, I breezed through life, taking normal...
by pattyptakkogutek | Feb 11, 2019 | inspiration
In a way, God is the Ultimate Hotelier! But Motel 6 and Tom Bodett took a page out of God’s playbook when they made the commercial for the roadside inn for weary travelers. Remember the TV commercial ending with the phrase, “We’ll leave the light on for you.”...
by pattyptakkogutek | Feb 4, 2019 | inspiration
It’s easy on an island vacation to “find your beach” as the Corona beer commercial urges us. The ability of disengage in our daily life is the real challenge. What a waste of time and energy we expend! Most of our stamina during the day is spent on things/activities...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jan 28, 2019 | inspiration
When in doubt….let it blow! It’s been over a year since hurricane Maria hit the islands in the Caribbean. The tropical paradise of St. John took it head-on being torn asunder. Survival and come back are now the main topics of conversation. Everyone has a genuine...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jan 21, 2019 | inspiration
I think we have all read so many articles on how to live a longer healthier life, not to mention the anti-aging products flooding the market. Are there really ways to extent your earthly life? Sure, increasing exercise and eating more veggies certainly help. But in a...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jan 14, 2019 | inspiration
Last week I shared an inspirational piece found in the belongings of Virginia Piper, a woman devoted to uplifting others. A woman who answered the call to “do more”. “I will do more than belong…I will participate. I will do more than believe…. I will practice. I will...
by pattyptakkogutek | Jan 5, 2019 | inspiration
Being creatures of habit, we traditionally kick off the New Year making the same 3 or 4 resolutions each year. Most include something like lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking or getting our finances in order. Do you think my New Year’s resolution to “eat...
by pattyptakkogutek | Dec 31, 2018 | inspiration
During my recovery from my recent hip replacement, I remembered reading a book, “The Gift of Peace” by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, in which he discussed the hardship of prayer during his last days on earth dying with cancer. (Not that I thought I was dying, but I...
by pattyptakkogutek | Dec 24, 2018 | inspiration
Growing up in Nebraska, mostly everyone is a football fan. Go Big Red! I never realized how much a blessing this was until I had been down for the count recovering from a hip replacement. Since I had my surgery right before Christmas I had two options for my TV...
by pattyptakkogutek | Dec 16, 2018 | inspiration
On that first Christmas night we read that there were angels in the sky proclaiming a heavenly message: “I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” “For unto us a child is born…And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,...
by pattyptakkogutek | Dec 10, 2018 | inspiration
With this nostalgic time of the year, childhood memories of Christmases long, long ago come to mind. Putting up the traditional tree drags up dubious memories. Have you ever had a mother instruct you on “exactly” how to put old-fashioned tinsel on the Christmas...
by pattyptakkogutek | Dec 3, 2018 | inspiration
As this wonderful season begins to unfold, I bring you a spiritual reminder. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present! Just a four short weeks from now we will be taking down the tree, packing up the...
by pattyptakkogutek | Nov 25, 2018 | inspiration
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving devoted to sales, brings out the crazy drive to “get the best deal”. Saving money and securing the best price, often comes with strings – beating out your neighbor, getting up at dawn and grabbing at a limited supply. Granted...
by pattyptakkogutek | Nov 18, 2018 | inspiration
Thanksgiving is the quiet holiday. It sneaks up on us after Halloween as we are distracted by the Christmas decorations. It’s a day set aside without the fanfare of lights, gifts, parties and other distractions. This holiday is totally devoted to one of the most...
by pattyptakkogutek | Nov 13, 2018 | inspiration
What, besides wine, gets better and more valuable with age? In an article by Jess Catcher the author lists 11 other interesting things that get better with age: whiskey, jeans, cheddar cheese, cast iron skillets, beef, balsamic vinegar, fine leather, pickles, flannel...
