handwritten on April 4, 2021
Today is a bright and shining Easter! It's the 66 degree weather we never have in Pittsburgh-with not a cloud in the sky. Unfortunately, I've physically been away from church for a while but I continue to tune in virtually and this morning was a beautiful message of worship, love and literally the perfect homily which I will post below. Sometimes the word comes at just the right time. So I'm thankful for this message and music as I close my week of rest, spiritual contemplation, laughter and discernment.
"Your callIng is going to crush you. If you are called to mend the broken-hearted, you are going to wrestle with broken-heartedness. If you are called to prophesy, you are going to...
handwritten on March 31, 2021
I'm quite grateful for some time this week to just think and reflect
Spring Break is always (but particularly this year) necessary
For those who know me, I greatly enjoy reflection
I love thinking about certain decisions or past circumstances and how they have
threaded together to create where I am now
who I am now
The natural reward that comes from reflection is gratitude
and I think this is why I find myself so captured by the need to write
about who I am and what is important and where I'm going
in the hopes that when I look back on my life and take time to read all I have written
I smile knowing I tried my hardest to live a life with honest and faithful intentions
my favorite thing to...
handwritten on March 30, 2021
Today's post is something received
freely that brightens the mind and the smile
lightens the heart
If you live in a city in which this particular kindness is often hidden
then you learn to appreciate it even more
We are not always present
Aware of how light
affects how we think about situations
dreams
people
but it is safe to say that it may have one of the greatest impacts
on life
at least for me
For there is nothing more beautiful to see
then a sky full of blue and the sun shining on the rooftops
It allows us to think these three things:
What do you want in life?
Why do you want it?
What are you going to do about it?
And the hope is that all three questions are answered with LOVE and...
handwritten on March 27, 2021
I've been thinking about topics to blog about.
Things that empower my soul and spread kindness and love.
Things that allow me to continously practice gratitude particularly when the days seem tough.
And so I've decided to record every random act of kindness I witness or see in my daily life. It could be big or quite small.
I'm hoping by doing so, I begin to focus on the positives and the beauty in the world in which I see and live rather than constantly focusing on all that needs to be done to create a brighter world.
Perhaps just allowing the kindness and myself "to be" will create the brightness I hope for.
Today's beauty unfolded at Aldi which happens to be my favorite Saturday...
handwritten on March 8, 2021
Dick Leous Eulogy
My name is Peter Rizzo, a very close friend of the Leous Family. On behalf of the Leous family, thank you all for joining us for today’s liturgical celebration as we offer prayers for the soul of Dick Leous—a friend, brother, uncle, grandfather, father, and husband. It is my honor and privilege to read the following eulogy written by Dick’s loving children.
Dad grew up on Colton Drive in Buffalo, in a most loving household, with his mother and father, his brothers, Roger and Oppy, and his sister, “Sis.” He adored his family and was equally passionate about all that life had to offer. He loved music and took piano lessons as a child—he could play any song by ear. He...
