Knotts Berry Farm and Neighbors

It is gone. Sorry folks. I cannot get into details but I will say that my Knott*s Berry Farm Transfiguration Jesus has found a new home with someone that it has a deep meaning for. Somehow, I felt that it was the right time and person and I guess that God whispered in my ear it means nothing to you so let it go. It has been gone for months, but I know that it is cherished and that is all that matters to me.

It is funny how people touch our lives. The person that received the Transfiguration was overwhelmed and wrote a lovely note on our guestbook. Such a simple thing as a personal note has gone the way of the dinosaur but it is those little things in life that keep us connected I think. On occasion I do still receive the personal notes that make me smile, but so do the nice notes in the guestbook.

Just the other night Tom and I happened to be outside when my neighbors pulled into their driveway. As they are normally gone for 13-14 hours every weekday, and go to a Summer residence on weekends, I never see them but the last time that I had she was heading to Russia to see her dad who was gravely ill.  That was way back in March. Well, it turns out that her dad passed away in May. I felt horrible that I had no idea but as we talked she learned things about me that she never knew as well. Of course, yesterday I put a hand written note in her mailbox offering my condolences and prayers to her and her family.

This all reminded me of a poem I used to have as a teenager that started with*It is the little things that mean so much.* It is the little things that we do for each other that make a difference; things like a simple hand written note or a telephone call rather than a text message or FaceBook post. We are loosing that personal touch with each other and that is a shame. I think it was an old AT&T ad that used to say reach out and touch someone. Reach out to someone today and do a simple thing to make that person feel appreciated or loved. I can tell you from personal experience that it will enrich your soul as well and put a smile on your own face.

Have a peaceful and blessed week.

Mare

 

St. Cecelia Spina Christi Rosary with Reliquary

Now that is a mouthful! Hi all! Business first and then I will kvetch. Gee I wonder how that will translate?

I have been in touch with Greg who has another wonderful find that he is looking to sell. He has a very rare rosary made of Spina Christi, which are a reddish-brown seed from a plant called the Crown of Thorns (spina Christi in Latin). It is a very old rosary and the centerpiece is St. Cecelia, who is the patron saint of singers, composers, musicians, poets and instrument makers. She is depicted often with a musical instrument, most often a piano. The only other one that I have come across in my searches for him dates this rosary to about the 1920s. It appears to be about 23 inches in length and the crucifix, including the pin is about 2 inches. the beads are about 9mm in size.

St. Cecelia Centerpiece

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Most remarkable is that the crucifix is complete with a screw-in closure pin. When you unscrew the pin inside  is soil from the catacombs of the Roman Christian martyrs, one of which was St. Cecelia. I have included a picture of the rosary here for you to see as well as a close up of the centerpiece.  If you are interested in this item please contact Greg at greg@vipbug.com.  He is looking to sell this incredible, rare gem for $100. So get in touch with him!!

I had such an amazing evening last night when I went to a healing mass. My good friend, Fr. Basil said the mass which was a welcome treat as he is here from Nigeria and we only get to see him once a year now, since his studies are now completed here and he returned to his native country a few years ago. We still stay in touch via Facebook, but that is just never the same as seeing a good friend face to face. It was wonderful to receive Communion from him. But his homily is what touched my heart and those of the other worshippers. Now I had basically inched over to the church, which is right around the corner. My left knee rarely cooperates lately and the top of my right foot screamed with pain with each step I took. Slowly but surely I made my way around the corner, determined not to turn around and go home to watch the wrong person win Idol. I was incredibly bummed out yesterday because the doctor had my CPAP delivered to me yesterday and the tech taught me how to use it. Poor pitiful me.........and then came Basil. He told us of one woman in his town who had a horrid, rotting, body that was slowly being consumed by some unknown disease. She was shunned by the community, who rarely came near her anyway because of how she looked and smelled. Then one day this year those incredible beings, Doctors without Borders, came to her town. They did all kinds of tests on her and after years and years of decay and illness diagnosed her as simply being allergic to peanuts. They treated her and now her skin is as smooth and silky as dark brown chocolate. We dont feel well? We call a doctor, hop in a car and he takes care of us. We want to worship? We hop in the car or walk to our local church. We want food? We go to the supermarket and have an overwhelming assortment of food.  Clean water? Not a problem turn on your faucet. Fr. Basil reminded us of every one of those blessings.  So there I sat, for the first time ever, with my body wracked by 3 different arrythmias, fibromyalgia, neuralgia, Cushings Disease, 2 auto-immune diseases and yes, even having to squeeze my cheeks last night, feeling guilty that I had come to a healing mass. Then something amazing happened. The church was filled with the scent of lilies. Looking around I only saw 2 small plants on the altar. The scent lingered for the remainder of the mass and then dissipated when it was over. Amazing. I did not stay to be prayed over. I was there to pray for someone else and I know that the Holy Spirit heard my prayer and would send healing to that person. How did I know that? Because I walked briskly home.  We take everything for granted here in the U.S. Even our homeless people have more opportunities than people in most areas of the world. Getting on the soapbox now people. Wake up! Love your God. Love your neighbor. Love and have compassion for those in your community. These are the most important things in this world and who cares what the Kardashians are up to. Pick up a bible. Pick up a rosary and get your priorities straight. Count your blessings be they great or small. I consider it a blessing just to wake up in the morning. As Fr. Basil loves to say God is good all the time; and all the time God is good. What are you doing for him today? Stepping down now, 

Peace!

Mare

Knotts Berry Farm Transfiguration Jesus

Update! I noticed that there is one for sale on eBay but I'm sure it won't last. Today is 10/19/2018 btw. $24.99 buy it now price, item number  183474703959.

Good luck.


Hello my glory glory gifts family! It is a dreary, drippy day here on my little island and it was a heck of a storm last night. Poor Grace, the chihuahua/poodle (choodle) rocketed from the floor to the top of my head with one mighty crash of thunder. I have to admit I was a bit freaked out too since I was lying about 2 feet from an open window (the rain was not coming in) in a steel-framed bed. The storm raged for a good 20 minutes and I just lay there in awe watching the lightning flash in the sky and listening to the thunder roll, it seemed, right through my attic. God forbid I move or even get up and close the window. I figured well I will either wake up looking like Little Orphan Annie or dead. Well, obviously I did not wake up dead but my hairdo? Well that is another story. We all know how attractive bed hair is. I have no idea where Rugerelle the pitt bull was, but I have a sneaking suspicion he was quivering in Toms room, along with Tom. Lets face it though, any day, drippy, dreary or not that you wake up, is a good day (regardless of what your hair is doing).

Well I have some fabulous news for you! I was contacted by a wonderful man by the name of Greg who has a Knotts Berry Farm Transfiguration Jesus that he may be interested in selling. These are the actual photos that he has provided to me.  If you are interested in this poignant keepsake you can reach him at greg@vipbug.com.

Have a fabulous day!

Peace!

Mare

Transfiguration Jesus from Knotts Berry Farm, CA

   



Boy, oh boy. This was one hot item last year, or at least I think it was last year. Actually No! It was Octoberish of 2010. I had a number of people contact me, the first one because I think that God had a hand in directing her to me; The remainder because I mentioned this picture on the blog a long time ago (after that initial contact). Once I saw this item for that first time and had it in my own hot little hand it got my wheels turning. I have never stepped foot in Knotts Berry Farm or in California for that matter but I just had to get this souvenir for myself. I found mine on where else but Ebay. It came with the postcard attached here of the Little Chapel by the Lake. The original portrait, done by a man by the name of Paul V. Klieben, was copyrighted in 1943 and housed in that same little chapel. I read that the chapel has been either torn down or moved to make room for a new roller coaster, so I do not know what happened to the portrait. But this is just the coolest thing. If you do not know anything about it let me illuminate you. If you hold the picture of Jesus up to a strong light and then turn the lights off not only does the picture glow, His eyes open as well! You would never be able to tell that happens by looking at the picture, so I am absolutely amazed that Mr. Klieben could accomplish something like this in 1943!! Well, at least I, of the stick-figure drawing public, am amazed.

Now mine isnt in pristine condition, like the others that I located, but simple pleasures make me very happy so I love it just the way it is. If you have any comments to share or memories of this incredible Transfiguration Jesus well then share them! If you know what became of the Little Chapel by the Lake and the original picture share that as well! Mine is NOT for sale but I decided to share it with you and see if I could get more info on it. I heard many comforting stories about children having it in their rooms when they were young, Him bringing light to the darkness, so we like to hear those comments as well.

Wherever you are, have a terrific and pleasant day......and thank you, Donna, for being the first to reach out to me to look for this. I hope all is well in your world!

Peace

Mare

P.S.: I apologize, but it seems that the apostrophe (and the delete key) on our keyboard has taken the month off. We hope you dont mind.