The Glory Glory Gifts Community Page

Announcing the new Community Page for Glory Glory Gifts! We are looking for inspiration as the new year begins so we decided to open up the website (so to speak) and share our community's thoughts and inspirations with, well, the world. We know we have some lovers of writing in our community, judging by some of the names they use on Facebook and email, so we are hoping that they will not be shy and share their talent with us. Anyone that knows me knows that being shy is not in my DNA so we have kicked off the Page with one of my own works from 2004 (copyrighted in 2009), which we are hoping will be replaced by another soon. No purchase is necessary to be included on the page but you must be either registered with the website or a Facebook member to be considered for publication on the site. The work can be a poem, prose, an inspirational story or even a miracle that you have witnessed, but it must be an original, unpublished work that is faith based or inspirational and no more than 30 lines in length. We are hoping to receive a deluge of emails and soon and look forward to reading each and every one of them. Your original work can be sent to us at mare@gloryglorygifts.com or gloryglorygifts@gmail.com.

Another announcement is that we have de-activated the Guestbook at the website. After adding the Community Page we felt that the menu was looking a bit too cluttered so we decided that it was no longer needed as we are no longer a new entity on the web. You know where to reach us if you want to give us a pat on the back or knock us down a peg or two and, of course, comments are welcome on this blog as well.

You probably didn't even notice but we do have a new email account that we can now be contacted at. Both are monitored throughout the day so feel free to contact us at either one. The links are above.

We hope you enjoy the remainder of your weekend and as always, may God bless you with all good things.

Peace!

Mare

No News is Good News

Things are very quiet here at GloryGloryGifts.com......ssshhhhh, very quiet. So since we do not have any business news to share with you I'm going to share some more interesting tidbits that I just found out recently. Exciting isn't it? Now, now; Be nice.

Last night 60 Minutes just happened to start at it's correct time so I sat down to watch for a while. They had a fascinating show last night about the last great migration of large animals, which are in the Serengeti in Tanzania. It is now thriving, however the eco-system is becoming more and more fragile as the river is slowly shriveling away due to de-forestation higher up the river. Trees are being cut down at an alarming rate for the coal that can be found in the region and crops are being planted and irrigated by the river. People are selling the coal and products in order to live, which I do understand. The biggest threat to the migratory beasts is the government's plan to build roadways. No food equals less beasts and eventually they will dwindle in numbers. It was just incredible to see the thousands of animals traveling through God's country. Thank goodness for tv and the internet for it is surely something that I would never witness otherwise.

The next part was about a group of endangered elephants in Central Africa and how they communicate. Fascinating. They can make sounds that are lower than a human's ear can detect. They make all kinds of complex sounds and noises to communicate with each other and there is currently research being conducted by (I believe) Cornell University that is cataloguing the ABC's of elephant talk. Led by a woman named Andrea Turkalo she has been living with and studying the sound patterns and their behaviors to distinguish their different dialogues. She has been there for years now and can actually recognize the elephants by the tone of the "voice." Now how cool a job is that?

The last installment was about Jane Goodall and her research with the chimpanzees. Now I just love monkeys. I could sit and watch them for hours. It was just so heartwarming to see Ms. Goodall visit her friends in the jungle and they knew her and played with her as if she were a part of their family. What an extraordinary woman. I found it incredibly amazing that blood transfusions can be done from ape to human and vice versa, as long as the blood type is the same. How freaking awesome is that? Though Jane no longer does the fieldwork (she's in her early 70's) she is on the road something like 340 days a year working to raise funding for research. What an inspirational woman she is. I have a feeling I will be visiting Amazon very soon to find books on her. I found this installment too intriguing not to read more on it.

In other news - I am finally reading Pride and Prejudice. I lie down at night with every intention of getting through a few chapters and find myself drifting off within seconds so it is taking me some time to read. I shall prevail though!

Remember during these stressful times that it is nice to give yourself a break once in a while. A good book or a wonderful program can restore the soul. I hope that you see or read something that inspires you today. Have a wonderful week and God bless!

Mare

Happy Birthday Cary Grant

I just finished my breakfast break (it was 2:00 here) and happened to channel surf while eating. I came across the TMC celebration of Cary Grant's birthday. I didn't catch the name of the movie as it was halfway through when I sat down but it was Cary and Carole Lombard; wow what a pair. Of course it was in black and white but in one scene Cary is sick and mad with fever and I was struck by the way he was able to emote through his eyes. Just incredible. What really impressed me about this movie, as well as many other old movies, is that they can convey such deep romantic love, such caring and depth in a performance without the gratuitous sex scene which seems to be in every movie today. My first experience with this phenomenon was watching Sir Lawrence Olivier and Merle Oberon in Wuthering Heights. At the tender age of 11 I sat on the couch sobbing while I watched my poor Heathcliff pine for his Cathy. My father was in a fit too on the couch......he was stifling his laughter from watching me just fall to pieces. I guess Wuthering Heights is the ultimate definition of a chick flick. Girls get it. Guys? I'm not too sure on that one. So that was my break for the day and now it is back to work.

We have changed a photo on the website of the Passion of the Christ statue. Instead of using the photo given to us by our distributor we have taken a picture of it ourselves. Truth be told, the picture they gave us bears no resemblance, whatsoever, to the ones we have in stock. What we are going to do is put each on the web. If and when it sells the photo will change. This way you are getting the exact same statue that you have ordered - no surprises. Personally we believe that the current statue we have on the site (as well as the others that will be going on the site eventually) is just stunning in its beauty and truth. Because the wood has dark tones it is from a very old olive tree. The darkness and the light, we believe, is a reminder of the agony he endured in order for us to be saved by his sacrifice. Speaking about emoting through the eyes, just look at the way the artist has created the eyes in this wood sculpture. They way he has captured the eyes makes them appear to be looking into your very soul doesn't it? Click on the picture and really look at it. Personally I think this is an incredible work of beauty. I hope you will agree. By the way the colors of the wood ARE a little distorted in the photo. The darker wood is the color of molasses and the lighter wood is the color of peanut butter.

Our price will remain $50.00 for the statue, which is about 60% less than the retail price. As always, we thank you for your patronage and wish you a very pleasant day. Happy birthday Mr. Grant.

Peace,

Mare

Baby, It's Cold Outside!!

Whoa, wow, and holy samoleons Batman!! It sure is freezing here on my little island today. Way back in the olden days (the 60"s) I used to have something called a muff. Do kids still use them today? I'm not even sure. But anyway muffs were great to keep your hands warm. The pouch in a hoodie where you put your hands over your belly is basically the same idea as a muff only they were made of furry things thing like rabbits and if you were really rich minks (sorry PETA). Those little things were warm! Well boy did I wish that I had a pair of muffs with me today in the adoration chapel. The chapel is located in the back of the church right next to the entryway so we feel it every time the door opens and closes so it is quite drafty. I fully expected my relief person to come in at 2:00 and find me frozen into the corner, in the final stages of hypothermia, but thankfully I had the wherewithal to throw my coat over myself and thaw out before that could happen. Do you know how sometimes when you take a breath in the cold your throat and chest kind of ache? It happened to me! Inside! Next week when I go I'll be sure to bring my scarf along; my mittens too and my thermal underwear. I will be a real fashion statement, that's for sure.

I found out something incredibly fascinating. Did you know that at least 13 people are reflected in the eyes of the Blessed Mother on St. Juan Diego's tilma? The images are imprinted on the pupil and iris of her eyes, which have been studied by an Engineer by the name of Jose' Aste Tonsmann. He used the digital process used by satellites and space probes to conduct the study and enhance the images. Tonsmann believes that the 13 people reflected were those in the room when Juan Diego opened up the tilma in front of Bishop Juan De Zumarra and others that were in the room at the time. Both eyes reflect the same images, though they are at different angles, just as they are reflected in any human's eyes. A separate study was conducted by Philip Callahan and Jody B. Smith who concluded that the images were not painted and the cloth, which is a rough maguey-fibered fabric, had not been treated with anything. It is also interesting to note that the fabric of the tilma usually disintegrates over a period of about 20 years, where this image and tilma have miraculously survived for over 470 years. Tonsman believes that reflected in the eyes is an Indian looking up to the heavens, the profile of a balding, elderly man with a white beard who he believes resembles the Bishop, a young man who he believes is the interpreter Juan Gonzelez, a man with a beard and mustache whom he believes to be Juan Diego because he is unfolding his tilma, a dark complexioned woman, who possibly worked for the Bishop and a man with Spanish features who seems to be stroking his beard.

In the pupils an entirely different scene unfolds. In the pupils are reflected what appears to be an Indian family of a man, woman and several children. In the right eye other people can be seen standing behind the woman. These images were all identified by the scientist magnifying Our Lady of Guadalupe's eyes by 2,500 times and by using mathematical and optical procedures. Richard Kuhn, the 1938 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry also examined the cloth and found it to be inexplicable. Amazing isn't it? I am sure you can google this information and see the photos of her eyes. It will be well worth your effort.

So what is new this week at GloryGloryGifts.com? Well, we are still working on the inventory. Counting each item is a tedious task but it must be done so we value and thank you for your patience when it comes to us responding to your emails and telephone calls. Don't be shy if you get the machine!! Please leave a message and we WILL get back to you a.s.a.p. I promise!

Just in this week from Bethlehem is a beautiful little statue of Our Blessed Mother with a rosary in her hands. The statue stands about 4.5" high, her face is un-detailed but the rosary beads are and it just a lovely little statue. They are priced at $14.00, which is about half of what it retails for. We also have the black and clear crystal holy land soil bracelets back in stock.

That's all the news from here. In these freezing temperatures don't forget to check on your elderly or disabled neighbors and relatives. Don't forget about our 4 legged friends either! They shouldn't be tethered to a pole or left outside for long. Keep warm, keep God close to your heart and keep smiling!

Peace!

Mare

Is it Friday Yet?

OH NO! Winter has finally found us. Though I am kissing the ground this year. There wasn't a major blizzard the day after Christmas like there was last year. Yay! I'm exhausted though. It's the first official work day of the year and I'm already exhausted. I had a few opportunities to get together with my family over the last two weeks and it was just wonderful. I had my Christmas day miracle and a quiet New Year's Eve and a quiet dinner with Tom on the day. But now it's time to buckle down and tackle the new year with gusto. There are a few goals for 2012 and things going on that I would like to share with you.

Starting tomorrow we will be conducting our semi-annual inventory of products. Please bear with us and have a bit of patience if you happen to order something from us. It might not ship the day we receive the order but we will get it out as soon as we can (probably on the 2nd day after the order is received).

Our goal this year is to get out to more local venues in the New York and New Jersey area. This won't happen until May when the season officially starts but we will certainly keep you posted via this site on where we will be and when. Stay tuned for more info on that!

I am interested in increasing our inventory, especially the devotional bracelets, rosary necklaces, crosses, crucifixes and include more unique designs to our product line. There are some gorgeous saint and leather devotional bracelets and rosary necklaces that I would just love to add to our inventory. Of course, any new items will be posted on this blog, the Glory Glory Gifts blog and on Facebook. We are hoping to keep our prices below retail for you so we are currently looking at different factories and distributors to work with. We want to give you the best of quality and choice at the best price possible.

Also in line with the above goal is to make GloryGloryGifts.com grow in 2012 so that we can HIRE employees. That would be a dream come true if we could create jobs for some of the unemployed people out there. We try and help our Christian brothers in the Holy Land by buying their handcrafted products. Why not help those around us too? That is one of our biggest goals for 2012. You, and you alone can help us attain that goal with your purchase. Pass the word to your family and friends too. Americans need to stop shopping at the big stores like Walmart and Target and start supporting the small businesses both in their home towns and on-line. Help the small businesses before we disappear! (BTW ALL the people at GloryGloryGifts.com are volunteers. None of us, including myself, are salaried-employees. Actually two are employed elsewhere).

I am now stepping off my soapbox.

Last, we are currently also updating the website for search engine optimization (SEO). It's a long and tedious task but we have to do it so that we can be found by everyone around the world. We also ask for your patience with that though it should NOT affect your visit on it at all. In the long run it will help everyone to find us.

Well Grace (pictured) is climbing into my arms and putting her little head on my shoulder. She's telling me it's time to step away from the computer. Have yourself a lovely day wherever in this big beautiful world that you are and may God bless you with all good things this year!

Love,
Mare

Happy New Year!

I simply cannot believe that New Year's is already here. Truthfully, I've never been a big fan of it. I did go to Times Square once when I was young and full of gumption. We were squashed in like sardines, we had to get there early to get even remotely close to the spot where the ball drops, there were no bathrooms available and someone threw up on my shoes. Okay sorry about that last one. TMI definitely. But it is something that every New Yorker should experience at least once in their lifetime. The amount of excitement and love in the air is palpable. I loved it because regardless of who we were or where we were from it was an experience that we all shared and we had a terrifically great time. The majority of my New Year's Eve celebrations were spent at either my grandma's or my aunt and uncle's house. Today is my Uncle Taube's birthday so we would have a cake for him and then just hang out as a family and wait to watch the revelers in Times Square. All toasty and warm in the house with a glass of some kind of bubbly in our hands (usually ginger ale) we would watch those fools that had made it to the ultimate celebration and laugh at the silliness. Within a half hour we would be heading home. Grandma and Uncle Taube are now gone. Families change; Traditions sometimes do too, but memories of being with a loving family is never a bad thing now is it?

I remember as a kid being very excited about New Year's Eve. Another year meant a new chance at everything. Do-over day. That's how I am going to approach it this year. Forget resolutions! Who keeps them anyway? I am reclaiming New Year's Day as Do-over day. I'm going to let the past lie and forge ahead into the new year with the zeal of a 10 year old. No backsies allowed either and no regrets! Do you know why the Mayan calendar runs out this year? Because it is going to be MY year. That's what I've decided.

I hope you have a splendid and safe New Year's Eve and day. I hope that all good things happen to YOU in 2012 and who knows, maybe Do-over day will become a world-wide event!

Enjoy!

Mare

Christmas Miracles

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me......a partridge in a pear tree. Traditionally the song comes from England, somewhere between 1558 and 1829 when Roman Catholics were not permitted to openly practice their faith. Each line has a meaning which I will synopsize here:
Partridge in a pear tree = Jesus
Two turtle doves were the old and new Testament
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love
Four Calling birds were the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Five golden rings recalled theTorah or Law of the first five books of the Old Testament
Six geese a laying were for the six days of creation
Seven swans a swimming represents the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit - prophesy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership and mercy
Eight maids a milking were the 8 beatitudes
Nine ladies dancing were the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Ten lords a leaping were the ten commandments
Eleven pipers piping were the 11 faithful apostles
Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the 12 points in the Apostles Creed

Of course it could have been also written by a woman that had an incredibly rich husband or boyfriend that loved to shower her with gifts. I'll take 5 gold rings any day! Especially now with the cost of gold skyrocketing. Hopefully you know I'm just pulling your leg; it's a song of tradition not greed.

I had the most incredibly gorgeous Christmas I think I have ever experienced. We had opened our home and hearts to someone in October that had no place to go. We were so blessed to be able to share not one but two glorious meals sitting together as a family both on the Eve and on Christmas day. Afterwards Tom and I showered him with gifts. He hasn't had a Christmas with a family since he was a young boy; he's now 24. I think I can speak for Tom as well when I say that he and I were overwhelmed by the young man's excitement of opening his presents; a coat, a pillow of his own, pajamas, underwear just to name a few items. Things we take for granted. I got an even greater gift when I gave a present to his wife who has never gotten a Christmas present, EVER. It was just a simple saint bracelet that I had made for her.

Now I know that many of you that read this aren't Catholic but I do believe that something happened yesterday that is beyond explanation. I call it my own Christmas miracle. I am a Catholic and part of my usual Sunday routine is spending 2 hours in our church's Perpetual Adoration Chapel. The chapel is open 24/7 which means every hour of every day and night someone is sitting there with the sacred Host, which Catholics believe is the actual body of Christ once it has been consecrated. Well yesterday was Sunday so I went to the chapel as I do but had actually switched my hours from 12-2 to 1-3 so that my friend could go and be with her family on Christmas. I bought my camera along with me to take pictures of the beautiful Nativity. But when I was all alone in the chapel I was (the only way I could describe it is "moved") nudged to take pictures of the chapel itself. The Host looked no different to me while I was in the chapel but I do have to say that yesterday I was so incredibly at peace; it was almost indescribable. When I left the chapel I took some pictures of the Nativity (which I have shared here) and when I walked outside was met with the most gorgeous sky. To me it looked like a huge dove hovering in the blue above me. Took some photos of that too. When I got home and downloaded the pictures onto my computer I noticed the host right away. I see Jesus face. Tom sees a heart. His girl Christina sees people and both Erv and Abbie see a face as well. I've included a picture of what the host usually looks like in a monstrance; plain white so you can see (well anyone who is a Christian knows what a host looks like). Without sounding like a crazy person I believe it is a Christmas miracle and I wanted to share it with you. Look at it yourself and decide. Even behind the picture where the flash is reflected in the brass you can still clearly see the change in the Host. All of the pictures were taken with the same little polaroid digital camera that I have. Any one of you that has seen the website or some of the photos on here know that I'm in no way a professional photographer. I will say that here we are a day later and I still have that incredible peace within which is refreshing. BTW out of all the people that looked at this photo, I am the only one that is a practicing Catholic. The others are Evangelical, Baptist or Agnostic but we all see that the Host is changed.

I hope that your Christmas was magical, spiritual, and peaceful and would just love your comments on what you see in the photos. Have a beautiful week!

I wish you peace and joy!

Mare