I took care of the paperwork to make my move to North Carolina final. And I couldn't be happier. What's next?

Are you are Martha or a Mary? Does that question make you bristle as much as it does me? Well, listen to this 10 minute inspirational message to find out how I finally put that sore point to an end!

I visit the Ashe County Farmers Market in West Jefferson, North Carolina and the most interesting discovery are the people on the other side of the table.

Let the Spirit move you!

My mother was raised in the Pentecostal church. She experienced the Holy Spirit as a physical manifestation, speaking in tongues. She often said  that she wished that I could experience Holy Spirit as she had. I have not spoken in tongues, but I have experienced the Holy Spirit as inspiration to be better and do better in the face of my own selfishness, because God’s Love was stronger than my weakness. That must be the Holy Spirit.

Here's the latest audio version of my newsletter, plus a recipe and a what I'm reading now.

I'm calling it Sundays with Suzanne.

Kiki passed away on Thursday. After she had stopped eating earlier in the week, I took her to the vet to find the cause. The blood test came back normal, then the vet took Kiki back to the x-ray room. Within minutes, the vet called me back to join her. On the screen behind her was an x-ray of Kiki’s lungs. The vet pointed to five tumors on Kiki’s lungs.

Kiki was 13 years old when she passed, I adopted her when she was nine. The first eight years of her life were unkind and left her fearful of people. She taught me about resiliency and healing power of love. Every relationship, whether human or companion animal, can teach us to be better.

When we went to Mass today and our priest placed ashes on our forehead, whether in a bold cross or a freeform smudge, we were reminded that we are created from dust and our lives are just as fragile.

Yet, it’s remarkably easy to become complacent. To take for granted our faith, our lives, and our people.

Have you thought about what you want to do with your retirement year? What will give them meaning? 

All the books in a library are merely fire kindling if we don’t read and learn from their content. The finest woodworking tools are decorative chunks of metal if we don’t put them to work.

So it is with all the types of prayer and even our precious Bible, if we don’t use these tools to spend time with God each day, and if we don’t learn to listen for his still small voice.

What a difference this simple sentence has made. I not only say the greeting every morning when I sit down to pray, I also find myself saying the words at random moments through the day because they warm my heart. When I say them, I feel God close to me, and that is an answer to prayer.

This year while I search for my home and a sense of physical security, I will focus on my spiritual security, and doing the things that I know will remind me of God’s ever present light, his love for me.

What will your word of the year be in 2023?