Some peoples avatars are hysterical.

I dreamt I was riding in a car with Dianne Sawyer while she tried to steer us away from a storm which was coming directly towards us. It was a fierce political storm and one that we weren't going to be able to avoid. The damage was going to  be great but she was in denial. I said, "What will you tell the people on the news tonight?" and she said, "I always report what I see. I don't make the news, I simply report it." While I sat beside her thinking ,"Um, yeah, well, we're in big trouble here."

Next it I dreamt of a poor Hispanic inner city family with several children. I ate with them and prayed for them and  they fed me tamales which BTW I love.

 (Please dear God bless the working poor as they struggle to survive.)

Then I dreamt of women who hid several disabled babies and children in some sort of a"Panic room" for their safety. I thought, "This time around no one will be able to hide."

(Please dear God bless and protect our disabled children and their care takers.)

And lastly I prayed for Kelly Ripa - I don't ask questions I just pray. Last night I came away with the feeling that there are so many people who need our prayers but there is so little time. I spend way too much time self absorbed with my own personal issues instead of getting my mind off of myself and doing what I'm called to do.

(God bless Kelly and her beautiful family.)

*Disclaimer, When you read my blog always keep in mind that  I don't have church approval and neither does my blog - I'm a sinner and nothing more.

My 5 things that bring me joy post - in no particular order.

1) When I receive a large package of pristine view master reels in the mail with MY name on the box!

(Whether I'm five or fifty years old - it doesn't  matter - sad but true.)

2) The cool things our children create bring me enormous joy, from their homemade soaps, makeups and cheeses to their paintings, drawings and sculptures made from fabric or clay. I also love their building projects and movies projects - which you will one day pay to see : )

3) I love it when my children -sensing my insecurities, hug me and tell me that they love me and think that I'm a good mom or when they mail a card that says's the same thing and it's addressed to "Mom Benson" on the outside of the envelope.

4) I love it when a mentally challenged kid is excited to see you even though you know you suck, and   it's crystal clear to everyone who knows you- knows that you do indeed suck, yet this kid acts like your somebody special and  he or she is really glad to see you -and they mean it.

5) I love it when my husband walks into the room and even though I know I suck, and it's crystal clear to everyone who knows me, knows that I do indeed suck, yet this man acts like I'm somebody special and he's really glad to see me -and he means it.

A few months ago I was doing something  for the poor and the boss of the organization came over to me and yelled at me because I brought the "items" in on the wrong day and it wasn't the "items" he had wanted me to bring in and as I bent over to put the items on the shelf all crest fallen and crushed a poor woman stood next  to me and said, " Thank you for helping us poor people, we appreciate it." I was so overwhelmed with joy I nearly kissed her on the face.

Apparently the raccoon who tore open our trash didn't like the way "  A Nuns Story" ended either.

The ending upset Gracie and she went on and on about how stupid it was.

(Grace is idealistic like her mother.)

The divine replicator.

I dreamt I was walking down a quiet paved road and there was a Catholic church on one side of the road and a large home on the other. I thought to myself, " I'd like to visit the church but first I'll go and view the home across the street."  I was told by someone in the dream that I was touring mother Cabrini's home for children and that this was where she had lived and cared for the children. (I don't know if there is such a place but I will google it after my post so that  I dont taint my poor memory.)  As I was being escorted through the old empty building we walked into each of the rooms and I was told a little bit about some of the children who had been under the watchful care of Mother Cabrini and her assistant care givers. Many of the children lived wonderful productive lives after they had left -  a living testament to Mother Cabrini and the spiritual direction and love she had provided for those children.

One little boy had loved bomber planes and carried a picture of a plane that he had treasured but for some reason it was left behind.  The sisters had encouraged the boy and this had effected his life in some sort of a dramatic way but I wasn't told how.

As I walked past Mothers room, I saw a Nun wearing a full habit whose back was turned to me and she was looking at a picture on the wall that read.... "I love my Nona." which made me smile because then I realized that Mother was Italian and that she took pride in being Italian.  In room after room where the children had stayed there had been stories of spiritual successes -you know moral people who went on to live exemplary christian lives after their stay. It felt as though it had been a happy place but has since fallen into deep disrepair and whether it's spiritual, simply physical or perhaps both, was not stated.

I was struck by the enormous love Mother Cabrini's had for the children. Her great love was uncontainable, it felt almost tangible and I was overwhelmed and inspired by it. I was told that it was Christ who gave Mother this great love and that it is Christ who replicates it  over and over again in his souls  and as it takes root it becomes unstoppable and it continues to replicate on and on forever.

Here's the house I  googled -Sacred Heart Orphan Asylum or the Sacred Heart Orphanage. I dreamt that there were serious issues with the floors and that the porch needs repair but there's also a door that doesn't lock properly and I dreamt that if that door's not fixed someone could get hurt and the door gave me anxiety. 

(Someone has been hurt and Mother is not happy with whats been going on over there.)

Death doesn't seem to stop some people and Mother Cabrini is on it.

*Disclaimer- This blog does not have church approval and neither do I. 

I dreamt that Rod Stewart stopped by my house to visit my husband and family. Mr. Stewart said something about me that was true but I didn't appreciate it very much ('cause it was true!) and I was reminded that God sends people who I have little respect or admiration for to correct me and apparently even in my sleep.  

***

I respectfully request Lord , that perhaps next time  you might consider sending Denzil Washington to correct me and when I'm corrected I would like to be given more specific information other than just pointing out my sins, which by the way I  feel really bad about. Maybe you could send people who would explain how to avoid committing those sins in the first place. Even so I understand that it's my responsibility to fix them - no one elses.

Love Belinda

Wouldn't it be weird if on Rod Stewart's blog this morning he wrote about a woman from Kansas who he visited in a dream -a woman who he felt little respect or admiration for and...... never mind.

Sister I know how you feel, I couldn't believe it either.
So many people seem to have lost their senses of boundaries.

I took two of my three teenagers who don't like me very much shopping and when you shop with teens you can expect you'll be working  off some of your accumulated purgatory time. Teens are rarely satisfied with the things their parents buy for them and they like to express this fact much to the distress of their parents who really do try to please them even though they mostly think we're here to ruin run their lives. To make matters worse many of our clothing options were either, mildly trashy, overtly slutty and how much would you pay to......  too expensive , poor quality or "You expect a kid to wear this!?"

  (Sometimes young minds confuse trashy with beauty ( Think- Dolly Parton fashion) and they're unable to differentiate between the two, so you could imagine there was conflict.)

*****

I saw a very large young man wearing glasses and jean shorts down to his knees which nearly touched the top of his tube socks strolling through the lingerie department with his sister, mother girlfriend, wife or significant other and all the while looking at bras and  making suggestions about style, comfort, and fit. He made himself at home and commented about everything she looked at as she  asked for his opinion  repeatedly. (Which in MY opinion wasn't worth squat.) Naturally I wanted to hurl right then and there but not wanting to cause a scene I simply gave him the death stare, and my personal favorite- The "WTH" is your problem", stare.

*****

I don't ever want to see  men in the ladies department. I don't care if your with your wife, grandmother or best buddy. You don't belong there and what would you know about comfort and fit? If you want to buy these things for you wife order it on line.  Now if your ordering online for yourself, your brother in law, your mom or even for your girlfriend then I still have a problem with you but then that would  be an entirely  different post.

*****

As we were walking out, a woman was all excited with my Maria and said to her, "Your so sweet , what a nice person you are!" and I grabbed Maria's face and said, "Okay Maria, wha'd ya do?! But she said, "Nothing." The store manager pointed and said, "She gave her seat to that old man over there!"  He smiled at me as I said to him, "Geese, I'm spending my retirement on Catholic schools , thanks be to God, today I got some of my moneys worth." (He wasn't looking for bras either. He sat in a chair and minded his own business - like a real man who waits to find out what his wife bought when she gets home - Like a Christmas present.)

*I noticed that men tend to put their hands behind their back when confronted with these sort of situations. The man at the store did this same thing -when he didn't have his hands all over the merchandise.

My mothers day dream - The nightmare.

I dreamt I was in an alley standing with my back against a building  and facing an amusement park where the bright festive lights could be seen far off into the distance a few miles away.  The lights indicated to me that it was time to go home after a day of pleasure and play  but the main focus of my dream was right beside me. I watched a homeless woman care for her newborn baby who she kept well hidden within her shirt. The mother loved this baby with a depth of love that only a mother could understand but sadly the baby was deformed and dying. The mom knew the babe had some from sort of a genetic defect as it was badly misshapened so she felt getting medical attention was not advantagious, in fact, she thought (and rightly so) that medical professionals would only separate a dying baby from it's mother and with nothing to gain. She nursed her baby and swaddled it  then she tucked it (I think it was a boy) away into a makeshift sling she had made. She struggled to keep the baby warm and safe so she hid herself away into some sort of a greasy, smelly garage where she felt safe and well  hidden in the dark as it had minimal lighting.

As the dream continued  I saw her sitting  with her baby and I  watched people who would pass by her with  their condescending glances while making unkind utterances - you know with sounds and not with words but most especially from an old man who viciously scorned her. (He was tall, white and  sharply dressed in slacks and a  crisp collared shirt. He was bald on top with grey hair above his ears) She was viewed  by all with contempt and disgust and my heart broke for her, but not for her baby because the baby was content and had everything he needed.

*There are women who've been  invited to share in our blessed mother's grief of the cross. This is an exclusive club and it's by "invitation only".  It's about holding a dying child, an innocent child while nurturing and loving the child with all of your might as they wait to die. I came away knowing that a good and loving mother has less to do with the stuff she is able to provide but rather it's about the love and tender care you feel and extend to another  human being - it  trumps everything else. There is nothing  greater that you can do than to love as this mother has loved. As our blessed mother has loved.

* Disclaimer; When you suffer your never alone and even though it may feel as though you are.  As your sins are not considered private, neither are your sufferings. The body of Christ knows. We just know.

Lastly to my children; showing love and kindness to the people around you , the people who God sends into your path is the greatest gift  you can do as a member of the body of Christ. It's what makes us the people of God- his children, the people who he has called us to be.