Saint Patrick's Day celebrates more than Irish culture; it honors a man who found divine strength in adversity. Kidnapped and enslaved in Ireland as a youth, Patrick's unwavering faith became his shield. His story of resilience echoes through the centuries, inspiring those facing their own trials. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with my Granddaughter Today, I think of my granddaughter Olive, separated from part of her family and navigating her own challenges. Drawing inspiration from the ancient "Breastplate of Saint Patrick," I offer this modern prayer of protection and hope for her: A Saint Patrick’s Day Blessing  for Olive   May Your Laughter Echo Through the Years and May God Bless You Always!  Olive, I pray you wake up with courage, Guided by the triune God, symbolized by the shamrock's three heart-shaped leaves. May God's wisdom illuminate your path, And Christ's kindness shape your words. When life's tough, remember you're not a...

This Valentine's Day, my heart exists as a collection of cubist fragments - broken into a thousand pieces, all longing to be pieced back together. February, the month of love, carries a bittersweet resonance this year. As I prepare to celebrate 50 years of marriage, my heart simultaneously aches with the pain of separation.  Love You Soooo Much Olive For the past three years, I've found myself embodying Picasso's " Weeping Woman, " my emotions as fractured and complex as his iconic painting. My once-whole bond with my granddaughter, Olive, now resembles a Cubist masterpiece, each jagged piece a poignant reminder of our involuntary divide. These years have painted our separation with harsh strokes, leaving my heart shattered into angular fragments, each one reflecting a cherished memory. Like the subject of Picasso's portrait, my eyes have become wells of sorrow, shedding invisible tears that daily erode the fabric of my being. Yet, even as I weep, my love r...