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Sunday Gratitude – 18.X.2026

Hi everyone! Glad to be back here. I’m still struggling with a lot, and there’s a lot that’s really overwhelming. However, I’m going to give it a shot as far as gratitude here.
Most importantly, probably, is that my son had a surgery on his ear a couple of weeks back, and everything went really, really well. Yes, he had the same surgery back in February on the other ear, and it went really well, but there’s still a good bit of nervousness attached to all these things.

Secondly, I recently took part in the Serbian Orthodox Choral Association’s annual choir festival. Because it was only a week after the surgery, I wasn’t going to go, but then there were people who had signed up who either couldn’t go or couldn’t sing, and I was asked if there might be some way that I could go. I managed to get things arranged, and I went. It was an amazing trip, and I hope to write about it separately. Most of us who went ended up driving, including the people I rode with, but everything went off without a hitch, there were no accidents or incidents with the driving, and the event was a lot of fun. I am very grateful for that, and for getting to see the city and experience the city a little.
If any of you are interested, our choir’s performance can be found here (our group starts at 45:15):
The weather has gotten cooler, and I’m grateful for that (St. Louis at over 90F was quite a shock to the system). This just seems to be one of those patches that is especially rough, so I’d appreciate your prayers for me and my kids.

Thank you ever so much for following; you are amazing!

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Sunday Gratitude – 12/13.II.2023

I’ve more or less lost the groove of blogging. I’ve had several posts in mind for weeks, but it hardly seems right to be going at the keyboard when there’s yet another load of dishes that desperately has to get done. It’s 10:30pm now, and I still have to make the bed. If I don’t, we’re going to probably sleep as poorly as we did last night.
There are so many things that I am grateful for, but I’ve also lost a good many of those “little things” to everything else that’s going on at the moment.
I am grateful for friends who listen and care. I am grateful for Abbot Tryphon, whose video podcasts and things have been keeping me going recently. I am grateful for the neighbors. I am grateful that I may get a few days to spend with friends in the not too distant future.
I am grateful that God has patience with me. Swirling through my head are some very emotional thoughts, and I’m trying not to let them eat me alive.
I am grateful for all your prayers.

Cranbrook mountains

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Wordless Wednesday #19 – Turkey Birds Crossing the Road




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Wordle #594


Never played Wordle? Check out my Wordle strategy page!
Wordle explanations are posted a day late to ensure that no one accidentally sees the solution before playing.
Line 1: Another “S”, but not at the beginning.
Line 2: Two more letters, but none in the right places. Not too shabby though!
Line 3: ‘I like the “AST”, so I’ll just shift it over one and add “Y”… All of a sudden we’re almost there!
Line 4: “Tasty!”
Did you get this Wordle? Tell me about it in the comments!
Happy Gaming!

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Wordle #593


Never played Wordle? Check out my Wordle strategy page!
Wordle explanations are posted a day late to ensure that no one accidentally sees the solution before playing.
Line 1: Another word starting with “S”. How many of them could there be?
Line 2: Oh, wow – “H” and “R” right away.
Line 3: I’m guessing the vowel isn’t a “U”, so “I” it is!
Line 4: A nifty word here – “shirk”.
Did you get this Wordle? Tell me about it in the comments!
Happy Gaming!

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Wordle #592


Never played Wordle? Check out my Wordle strategy page!
Wordle explanations are posted a day late to ensure that no one accidentally sees the solution before playing.
Line 1: This is a very good start – an “O” already in place, and an “S” and a “C” floating around.
Line 2: Is it an “SC” blend? Yes indeed! 🙂
Line 3: But which “SC” word. I played another double here; again, it didn’t pan out.
Line 4: Got it – “scold”!
Did you get this Wordle? Tell me about it in the comments!
Happy Gaming!

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Wordle #591


Never played Wordle? Check out my Wordle strategy page!
Wordle explanations are posted a day late to ensure that no one accidentally sees the solution before playing.
Line 1: “CR” again. Definitely interesting.
Line 2: Added the vowel.. not bad.
Line 3: Right now, the words that I’m thinking of have double letters. It’s a risk, but I figure it’s worth taking
Line 4: Again, a double letter with the “S”, but I get the word! “Cross”. I’m almost surprised the New York Times doesn’t find the word somehow offensive!
Did you get this Wordle? Tell me about it in the comments!
Happy Gaming!

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Three Little Birds

I’ve been caught up in doing a bunch of paperwork and such recently, not to mention not feeling well (normal stuff) and being a champion at losing things – there was one paper that I literally had in my hand that I put down without thinking and it took me hours to find again. As frustrating as that was, I did find a number of things that had disappeared over the last couple of months, which is a blessing. I think I have at least four “real” posts floating around in my head right now, I just haven’t had the time to sit down and write.
I did not, however, find either pair of my glasses. Being as it has been five years since I have had my eyes looked at (and with my poor vision, I really ought to be on a yearly schedule) the fact that both pairs have been lost more than found over the last six months may be God’s way of telling me I need to get my eyes checked, so I booked an appointment.
This morning was hard. Getting kids to school is hard in general, but when one child digs in and refuses to cooperate, it can make things get really bad really quickly, as it has a direct effect on everyone and their punctuality. Lots of crying and whining and some yelling ensues. It wasn’t as bad as sometimes, but I felt awful.
I had to check the kids in, and when I got back in the car, the radio station was already playing their “Totally Random Song of the Day“. It was Bob Marley and the Wailers with “Three Little Birds”. I embed it here for you:
Feel those early 1980 vibes! I know that a lot of people dislike it when people say that God is the reason when good things “coincidentally” happen. As much as I do feel it is important to give all glory to God, I do think that there’s a danger of “seeking signs” and superstitiousness when people do this. That being said, as soon as I heard this on, I had a strong sense of this being what God wanted me to hear at this particular moment.
“Every little thing is going to be all right…”
We know that these are insane days. We know that there are wars, rumors of wars, injustice, starvation, etc. At the same time, we believe that God is bigger than all of this.
Psalm 45/46 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
I daresay, the message here is pretty much the same – “Every little thing is going to be all right”. We just need to hold fast in faith to God. For this reason, I don’t think it is unreasonable to think that it was more than “coincidence” that this was playing this morning.

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Wordless Wednesday #18 – Lake Shore Drive



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Lilla Rose February 2023 Update

For the latest Lilla Rose posts, please check out the following:
The author of this blog is a “Flexi Rep/Affiliate” with Lilla Rose, and is not employed by Lilla Rose. Purchases made through this link <https://www.lillarose.com/katja> will earn the author a commission.
Welcome back to what’s going on with Lilla Rose this month!
First off, there’s a new “mane event” set. Like January, it is discounted 20% for the first three days. The clip is a beautiful Valentine’s Day themed piece (though appropriate for more than Valentine’s Day) and sets – especially discounted sets – are a great way to try more than one thing without spending as much for it.

This month’s special deal is “Pick your pink” with a $50 order.

Of course, there are some new things now available. It’s terrible, I always seem to see something pretty that I think would be nice.

And… one more thing to round things out – 10% off hair serum. I am first to admit, I don’t have much of a clue when it comes to things more than shampoo and conditioner for my hair. However, I have always noticed that my hair gets very, very straw-like in the winter, even with conditioner… If this would help with that, it might be worth trying.

I ordered a couple of things yesterday – the larger flexi sport, for one. I am amazed at how much I wear the regular-sized flexi sport. I’m also realizing more and more my appreciation for being able to simply pull a pin to get my hair down – it’s been close to a year now since I stopped wearing elastics to hold my hair up in ponytails or braids, and my hair thanks me for it.
I appreciate all of you taking the time to read this.
https://www.lillarose.com/katja

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Wordle #590


Never played Wordle? Check out my Wordle strategy page!
Wordle explanations are posted a day late to ensure that no one accidentally sees the solution before playing.
Line 1: Fishy gets me nothing here except eliminated letters
Line 2: Going with “beard” today, as I can’t use “S” since it’s already been eliminated. Not too shabby – an “A” in the right place even, and “E” and “R” incorrectly placed. Lookin’ good!
Line 3: Since “EA” didn’t work, I’m trying “A”-consonant-“E”. This worked, as did placing the “R” in spot #2. The only problem is, there still are a lot of possibilities for words out there and I’m not sure I’ll get this.
Line 4: Getting the “C” is a big win, but “crane” isn’t the word. Based on letters still available, I think I know what the solution has to be.
Line 5: “Crave”!
Did you get this Wordle? Tell me about it in the comments!
Happy Gaming!

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