"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."
Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you and you and you!Here's a little background on the man of honor himself, taken directly from Wikipedia. I now know:
-Saint Patrick was kidnapped and enslaved.
-He was passionate about sharing the gospel with both the rich and poor.
-He used the shamrock as a tool to explain the Trinity to the Irish people who he was very passionate about saving and protecting.
Enjoy:
Little is known of Patrick's early life, though it is known that he was born in Roman Britain in the fifth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father and grandfather were deacons in the Church. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave. It is believed he was held somewhere on the west coast of Ireland, possibly Mayo, but the exact location is unknown. According to his Confession, he was told by God in a dream to flee from captivity to the coast, where he would board a ship and return to Britain. Upon returning, he quickly joined the Church in Auxerre in Gaul and studied to be a priest.
In 432, he again says that he was called back to Ireland, though as a bishop, to save the Irish, and indeed he was successful at this, focusing on converting royalty and aristocracy as well as the poor. Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) to the Irish people. After nearly thirty years of teaching and spreading God's Word he died on 17 March, 461 AD, and was buried at Downpatrick, so tradition says. Although there were other more successful missions to Ireland from Rome, Patrick endured as the principal champion of Irish Christianity and is held in esteem in the Irish Church.
I'm so very excited about this weekend! Janathin is coming in town, and we've made a bunch of fun plans with each other, family and friends.
Blake and I are finishing up the third part of the XTerra Alabama Trailrunning Series at Oak Mountain on Sunday morning. We're hoping to continue our first place lead in our individual age divisions so that we'll make it to the National Championships in Oregon next September. I'm going to need as much help as I can get because my training has been absolutely pitiful! Work, food poisoning and this past week's croupy-crud has left me weak and untrained! Please pray!
Receiving a hand-written letter or card via "snail mail," may be one of my most favorite things!
Sure, emails, texts and phone calls are always nice, but there's just something about receiving a personal card or letter. Instead of snapping a way a couple of lines through an instantly received email or texting an abbreviated one-liner, hand-written letters speak of intention, thoughtfulness and 44 cents!
I get tickled picking out that special card for whoever I'm wishing to mail happiness to.
And, I especially appreciate the time, effort and creativity expended on handmade cards.
If you get a chance this week, make time to send someone you care about a hand-written card. They'll be thrilled to pull it out of their mailbox and see your name on the return addy! Happy Monday!
Good morning On.a.Whim friends! 
To catch you up, we celebrated my Emme Grace’s (youngest cousin) 11th birthday on Monday with Edgar’s strawberry cupcakes, cheese dogs, spinach dip and lemonade.
Emme has just moved (barely a month ago) here from Texas with her family.
I could not be more happy to have them here!
Also, here’s a sneak peak at the spring book list. 
