Happy St Patrick's Day!

My grandfather was Edward Connelly, born on October 5, 1894, in Green Isle Two, Sibley Minnesota. He died almost a year after I was born on June 4, 1957, in Puyallup, Washington. He was an Irish Catholic. I never knew him.


My grandmother, Elizabeth Anna Lustman was born on April 30, 1894, in Glencoe Minnesota. She died when I was 14 years old, on April 30, 1971, (yes, she was exactly 77 years old) in Puyallup, Washington. She was a German Lutheran. I knew her...I wish I could have had the time to know her better.

How they ever got together in the first place, living in a city divided by ethnic and religious lines, is a love story all it's own...but for today, when all the world is Irish, I am glad that this piece of art is a piece of my heritage and now hangs in my family room. Their love story is for another time. Today is a day for celebrating all things Irish...linens, china, shamrocks...and blessings!

May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been. The foresight to know where you are going. And the insight to know when you have gone too far.

May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts; and if he doesn't turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping.

May God give you...for every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.

May you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

May the sun shine all day long, everything go right and nothing wrong. May those you love bring love back to you, and may all the wishes you wish come true!

May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore - St. Patrick

And perhaps the best loved Irish blessing, quoted and posted, and made into cards...

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Blessings to you and all those you love :)