Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Top 5 Super Blood Moon Eclipse Photos ~ WW/#5faves

We took about 30..... narrowing to 5 was hard!
Actually I took two, I think,
 and my older son took the rest of the pack.....
He did a fantastic job!
Using a tripod and adjusting a few settings, plus being verrrrry patient
yielded some amazing pictures.







If you're still riding the "eclipse high," here's a site for you~~
You can easily research all facts moon related and
 when and where the next lunar and solar eclipses will be visible
from your corner of the world...pretty cool.

Off the eclipse topic, my story on Papal events 
for any of you lovely readers who are still experiencing the Francis Effect
and want more first hand coverage!
Thanks for clicking over!


Did you know, by the way, that I'm a Compassion Blogger?
Wait til you see these adorable faces!

  
 
Friends, as always,  
thank you for stopping over and 
spending some of your precious time 
here at my home on the web!
And hey:

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just enter your email address here
so we can be in touch regularly!

Enter your email address:

You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....

Until next time,


                                   ~Chris

I'm SO very happy to link with Jenna's Five Favorites 
and
Thank you, ladies!


Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Papa's Mass at The Garden on Friday AND How Can I Pray for You?

So I logged onto my email last week to find THIS~~~

and almost fell off the couch in shock!

The papal procession in Central Park?
Us and only about 90,000 other pilgrims??
And gawkers and curious non religious folk...and  of course, aren't they the ones who should
flock there  and get close and be enlightened? 
How perfect in our city,  which is the very definition of 
multi cultural and eclectic, our Holy Father is attracting throngs??
It's an amazing time for our city!
So there we were all set to take the train to Penn and walk uptown thirty or so blocks
to Central Park West and all happy and feeling blessed.
THEN on Saturday, by snail mail, arrives a letter from our diocese.
Hmmmmmm.....
We never assumed that we'd be chosen in our diocesan lottery for seats at
the Papal mass at Madison Square Garden, but of course, we  submitted our form regardless.
because even though we never win anything, hey you never know.
So when we opened the curious envelope from our diocese we learned that 
out of 13,000 lottery forms  were submitted, 
ours was one of the 500 randomly chosen.
I think that about sums  up our good luck and blessings for the rest of my life.
Although, wait a minute, since we were also randomly chosen in my former parish in
the Brooklyn Diocese for JPII's Octiber 1995 mass at Aquecduct, it seems
I must be really over my limit.
Someone upstairs must have let this slip.
Twice in a lifetime?
Wow.
So last night, we picked up our tickets.....
And aren't they just the most beautiful tickets ?


Now, for the important part:
I completely recognize what an honor this is and I have to tell you my friends,
I'll be praying for you like crazy.
BUT, do you have a special intention you'd like me to bring along?
If so, please let me know by leaving your name  in the comments
 or by emailing me at campfiresandcleats@gmail.com.
No need to divulge any private intentions of course.
He knows everything.
But let me know if there is something special and 
 I will definitely take it with me.
I'll be back over the weekend with a full, detailed, picture heavy (I hope) post!

Wait til you see these adorable faces!

  
 
Friends, as always,  
thank you for stopping over and 
spending some of your precious time 
here at my home on the web!
And hey:

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just enter your email address here
so we can be in touch regularly!

Enter your email address:

You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....

Until next time,

~Chris


Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Compassion International: The Power of Kindness, Worldwide and How We Can All Get Involved


 "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
 and he will reward them for what they have done."
- Proverbs 19:17


Big news!
I'm honored that my little corner of the web was chosen by  
Compassion International! 
 Compassion advocates for children in need globally, freeing them 
from poverty and providing them with the resources to become successful,
responsible Christian adults.
What began as one man's act of empathy and well, compassion, for orphans
abandoned on the streets of Seoul as he traveled to South Korea to minister to 
American troops during the Korean War, 
has evolved into the global charity that 
has lifted more than a million and half children out of poverty over six decades.
 The Reverend Everett Swanson could not ignore the plight of these beautiful,
deserted children...... his selfless acts have provided unquantifiable children hope.

What sets Compassion apart is their faith based initiatives and
 partnerships with  over 6,500 churches worldwide.
More on Compassion's Mission Statement can be found here.
 I could not be happier to become a Compassion Blogger.....
To be  part of the network spreading the word about children across our globe
who are in need?
It's a privilege.

 How can we get involved with Compassion
offering our time, talents and resources?
Lose your heart to Judah in this video and find out how you can be part of
this amazing network~~



 I'll look forward to bringing you more stories of Compassion kids throughout the world.
Their physical and emotional needs, their practical struggles, as well as the success
Compassion has orchestrated.
These are just a few of the kids waiting for everyday
ordinary folks like you and me to take the extraordinary step of sponsorship~~

Today happens to be the birthday of our Blessed Mother....!!
As the Mother of our Lord exemplified true selflessness,  
let's celebrate her nativity by reaching out and wrapping those in need, in love.
to find out how we can take the next step in ensuring their care.
 Look at these beautiful faces~~~~~ 


Wait til you see these adorable faces!

  
 
Friends, as always,  
thank you for stopping over and 
spending some of your precious time 
here at my home on the web!
And hey:

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just enter your email address here
so we can be in touch regularly!

Enter your email address:

You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....

Until next time,

~Chris