Wednesday, November 16, 2005

St. Margaret of Scotland

Today is the feast day of one of my favourite saints, St. Margaret of Scotland

Margaret was an English princess, born in 1093. She was the daughter of Princess Agatha of Hungary and the Anglo-Saxon Prince Edward Atheling. \She and her mother sailed to Scotland to escape from the king who had conquered their land. King Malcolm of Scotland welcomed them and fell in love with the beautiful princess. Margaret and Malcolm were married before too long.

As Queen, Margaret changed her husband and the country for the better. Malcolm was good, but he and his court were very rough. When he saw how wise his beloved wife was, he listened to her good advice. She softened his temper and led him to practice great virtue. She made the court beautiful and civilized. Soon all the princes had better manners, and the ladies copied her purity and devotion. The king and queen gave wonderful example to everyone by the way they prayed together and fed crowds of poor people with their own hands. They seemed to have only one desire: to make everyone happy and good.

Margaret was a blessing for all the people of Scotland. Before she arrived, there was great ignorance and many bad habits among them. Margaret worked hard to obtain good teachers, to correct the evil practices, and to have new churches built. She loved to make these churches beautiful for God's glory, and she embroidered the priest's vestments herself.

God sent this holy Queen six sons and two daughters. She loved them dearly and raised them well. The youngest boy became St. David. But Margaret had sorrows, too. In her last illness, she learned that both her husband and her son, Edward, had been killed in battle. Yet she prayed: "I thank You, Almighty God, for sending me so great a sorrow to purify me from my sins."

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

A Fantasy Come True!

Don't get me wrong -- moving is hard work, and I know it! But I also try to always see the good side of everything. Moving is a brand new beginning!

Could that be why so many women over the years (my decorating students, friends and even my own daughter) have often told me they fantasize about moving everything out of their homes and back in again? Just think -- a chance for the new beginning without having to leave the home you love!

Well, it's about to happen. In five days Fred and I will be having new carpet installed. We are replacing every carpeted area in our condo, which leaves only our kitchen and bathrooms untouched. The installers will move some of the furniture themselves, but I must remove all of the smaller pieces (such as dining room chairs). As well, all objects sitting on tables or shelves, or stored in cabinets must be packed up and removed. My custom closet organizer needs to be taken apart, as the master closet floor will also be carpeted, and all of our clothes stored in plastic bags. Early Saturday morning, everything that is now being stacked up indoors will be moved outside our front door.

It's not an easy job, but I'm loving every minute of it! And I'm looking so forward to moving everything back in again, especially as I unpack and reorganize all of our rooms. Just like moving into a new place!! The best part is that the new carpet smell will really make it seem like a new home!

But I have to say, I'm so glad I'm not a packrat!

Monday, September 26, 2005

What's in Your Wallet?

This is the catchy slogan of Capital One Mastercard. But do you know what's really in your wallet?

Last Wednesday, my wallet was stolen from my purse. In the short time it took me to discover the theft, report it to the police, and contact my bank, someone used my credit card. How much worse it could have been!

I have always kept a list of the contents of my wallet, just in case something like this should happen. I recommend it to everyone. Some of the things on my list (that you should consider for yours) include:

Credit card numbers, as well as the telephone number to call if the cards are lost or stolen

Debit card numbers

Driver's licence number, as well as car insurance policy

Health card number

Library card numbers

Video rental memberships

You need to carry only one credit card. If you have more than one, lock the rest away. NEVER carry your social insurance card (nor anything with your social insurance number on it)

As for credit card companies and their slogans, it is unforunately true that my VISA card is now everywhere I want to be!