Sunday, June 29, 2008

G.K. Chesterton

My husband and I are huge G.K. Chesterton fans.
We love to read his wisdom about life.
I was first turned on to him about 6 years ago in my CREED (Catholics Reading Enlightening Evangelizing Discussing) book club that my good friend, Chris and I started back in Indiana.
One of the selections by our dear Melissa was The Apostolate of Common Sense by Dale Ahlquist. I love this book and highly recommend it to anyone who would like to try reading Chesterton.
Enough for now, I need to go have some fun with my kids.
Chesterton does not need any more introduction.
He is a great man with much wisdom to share.
Blessed be God forever!
Don't forget your rosary!!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Tomato Pie

This post is dedicated to my friend, Tina. She introduced me to this wonderful recipe last summer. I loved it from the first bite and continue to make it even with tomatoes from the grocery store. I have shared this recipe of Tina's with many, many other friends and have to say it has always been a "WINNER."
Thanks Tina for the recipe and thanks to all of you who have shared this pie with me at my table.
Today, I will say a special prayer for all of you whom I have shared this pie/recipe with and for all of you who will try this wonderful, delicious recipe!

INGREDIENTS:
Pastry for a 1-crust 9-inch pie, unbaked (I usually brush with evaporated milk, but not everyone I know does this)
4 cups sliced firm ripe tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Fresh leaf basil (makes all the difference in the world) You can either layer the basil with the tomatoes or you can chop the basil and mix with the mayo mixture
1/2 cup mayonnaise
8 oz. Parmesan cheese (or use could use any other type of cheese you may like; a lot of people use Mozzarella, but I prefer fresh parm. that I grate myself)
1 large clove garlic, smashed and minced (use as much garlic as you like; this is just a basic start; I usually use two)

PREPARATION:
Line pie plate with pastry; flute edges and brush shell with evaporated milk.
Bake at 450° for 5 minutes.
Fill the baked pie shell with sliced tomatoes and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and basil.
Combine mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and minced garlic; spread over the layer of tomatoes.
Bake at 350° for 35 to 45 minutes, or until tomatoes are cooked and pie is done
I hope you like it!
Let me know what you think and feel free to share your wonderful summer recipes with me as well.
Blessed be God Forever!!

A MeMe


A is for age: 40
B is for burger of choice: Bocca Veggie Burger
C is for what kind of car ou drive: 2000 Oldsmobile Sillhoute Mini Van
D is for your dog(s)'s name: Cissy or her full Catholic name (Cecilia Marie) why does she have full Catholic name? When we got her at the animal shelter they were calling her Cissy. My kids know that they have Catholic Saint names so they thought the dog needed one as well.
E is for essential item you use everyday: My couch; I sit on it and read with my kids, I listen to frustrations of life on this couch, I give hugs, I snuggle, I pray, I read to myself, I hang out with my kids, I talk with my husband, I listen to the joys of this day on this couch.
F is for favorite TV show at the moment: No time for t.v. Summer is devoted to catching up on reading.
G is for favorite game: Lacrosse in sports; Phase 10 in games.
H is for home state: Indiana; "Back Home Again in Indiana!!"
I is for instruments you play: Well, that would be none officially; however, when playing instruments with my kids I can play them all. We have a great time making up our own band and marching around the house.
J is for favorite juice: I like OJ, but not a big juice person.
K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: People who don't take the time to help other people when it is obvious they are in need of help. However, since I really would not kick their butt, I would probably just pray for them.
L is for last restaurant at which you ate: The Deer Head on Cayuga Lake after jetskiing all day. Not the best dinner, but fun for the family after a great outdoor day.
M is for your favorite Muppet: Not really a favorite. However, I did recently get The Muppets Take Manhattan from Netflix for my kids and they loved it.
N is for the number of piercings: 2, one in each ear
O is for over night hospital stays: 6, one for each child and twice for my hyper emesis while pregnant for #3.
P is for people you're with today: My family
Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Pray, read, think, and exercise
R is for the biggest regret: I have no regrets since I take my mistakes and learn from them.
S is for status: Married
.T is for time you woke up today: 5:00a.m
U is for what you consider unique about yourself. Not sure about that one. My family makes me unique since they are unique individuals that fill my day with joy, love, and sometimes frustration, but that is small compared to the joy they give me.
V is for vegetable you love: Fresh tomatoes and then put it in a tomatoe pie-- yummmmmmm!!!
W is for worst habit: Not saying no enough. I want to help others out or even my family and sometimes I do it when it is not good for me
X is for x-rays you've had: Don't really recall; probably not that many.
Y is for yummy food you ate today: Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal so far; menu plans for the rest of the day: pasta salad for lunch; homemade pizza and caesar salad for dinner; then there are the homemade brownies for dessert!!
Z is for Zodiac sign: Piecese, but not into this.
Now I tag Terri and Shari!
God bless and Have a blessed Day!

Blessed Be God Forever!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Elaine needs our prayers today!

Please pray for Elaine today as I believe this is the day (June 25th) that she will be having surgery due to her recent diagnosis of Breast Cancer.
Please say a "Hail Mary" for her and ask the Blessed Mother to stand by her through this journey she is taking and please ask Our Lord to give her the strength needed to endure this cross she must bear. May she look to Our Lord as an example on how to bear this cross with love. Thank you my fellow prayer warriors for all your prayers. As soon as I hear how Elaine is doing, I will post!
Blessed be God Forever!

Melissa Hackney


Update on Melissa:
Melissa is spending more and more time being alert and wanting her mom's constant presence near her. This is such a wonderful thing.
She is also drinking, drinking, drinking!!!
Patti (her mom) stopped by briefly yesterday as I was on my way out to take the kids to school. She was just getting into town from the hospital (it is an hour away).
I hope to talk with her more tomorrow.
Please continue to pray for Melissa and her family!
Thank you my dear prayer warriors!
Blessed be God forever!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Simiple Life


Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be . . . and becoming that person.
-St. Therese
Not only is this my prayer for myself, I hope that you will reachout to Jesus and ask the same of Him. Simplifying our lives makes it easier to listsen to Our Lord and follow His example of Holiness.
Blessed Be God Forever!
Don't forget your rosary today!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Prayers


I just received these prayer requests from my friend, Sr. Mary Chris. She has promised to pray for those I have on my blog and in return, I wanted to post her requests for prayers for the following:



Kelsey is an 11 year old child. She has spinal cancer and this is her second battle with cancer; this time being a different type of cancer. Please pray for Mary Lou, Florence and John all three suffering from cancer.


Thank Sr. Mary Chris for letting me know about these children of God needing our prayers. You can count on the prayer warriors who visit this site to storm heaven for them.


Please keep us updated Sr. Mary Chris on how they are doing.


Prayer for the Sick

Omnipotent and eternal God, the everlasting Salvation of those who believe, hear us on behalf of Thy sick servants,Kelsey, Mary Lou Florence, and John for whom we beg the aid of Thy pitying mercy, that, with his bodily health restored, he may give thanks to Thee in Thy church. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.
Blessed Be God Forever!!!


Tuesday, June 17, 2008

More info. on Melissa----

Just had a really great conversation with Melissa's mom, Patti tonight and wanted to update you on Melissa.
You might have noticed the water clip art on this post.
I put this there due to the fact that the first thing Melissa said to her mom, well she mouthed to her mom was that she was thirsty.
Patti was so excited to here those words from her.
I can visualize Patti dancing around the room saying,"She's thirsty, she's thirsty." I can also see Melissa looking at her mom like she is crazy. In fact, Patti said when she acted like that she would ask Melissa if she thought she was crazy and she would roll hers while shaking her head yes!!
Melissa has also mouthed (for those of you who don't know she has a trachea) I want a drink, I want soda, I want to get up.
Patti said that today was the best day she has had in 2 1/2 months.
She also asked her mom why she could not talk. Patti got out a mirror to show Melissa the trachea.
Patti always would say to her kids,"I love you all the way to the moon and back." You all know the wonderful book Guess How Much I Love You. Well, Melissa would say to her mom,"I love you to Pluto." Today, Patti told Melissa she loved her to the moon and back. Melissa mouthed,"Pluto."
I am sure Patti's eyes filled with tears on that one.
Your prayers are working!
Thank you my dear prayer warriors!
Please continue to pray for her as she will need our prayers to get her out of ICU and back to bone marrow and then on to rehab.
Blessed be God Forever!
Don't ever forget the power of prayer!
Oh, her last EEG came wonderful!
Love to all my prayer warrior and blogging buddies!

Melissa is not able to have water to drink as of this time; however, they were pleased to know she is feeling her thirst mechanism. It means her brain is working. She is also feeling the urge to go to the bathroom, but she has a foley catheter in place.

She sucks on swabs right now that have been soaked in water.

When Patti told me this, I thought of our Lord up on the cross and how He was handed a soaked sponge to sip from.

We do carry our crosses like our Lord, just in different ways! It is how we handle our cross that makes the difference. Our Lord was the ultimate great example!


Update on Melissa Hackney


Without God, how could we hope at all?
My dear prayer warriors,
Melissa has returned to ICU as of last night.
Her O2 Sats had been dropping and since there are only a few nurses on the bone marrow unit trained to work with critical care patients, the doctors felt it was better for Melissa to be back on the ICU.
We are hoping this is only temporary.
They believe she may have a mucus plug in her lungs (the mucus plug would most likely be blocking her airways so that the alveoli would not be able to expand as they are suppose to--in layman terms) or the reoccurence of the CMV (Cytomegalovirus).
She had a bronchialscope yesterday and they still awaiting the results. Melissa's mother (Patti) will keep me updated on what she finds out.
I will then keep all of you informed as I find out as well.
I ask for continued prayers and for all my Catholic prayer warriors, please offer up a "Hail Mary" and even your daily Masses for her.
She needs us and we cannot let her down!
Blessed be God Forever!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Wonderful News on Theresa!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, & Holy Ghost!!!

Tonight, we must send praise out to Our Lord for hearing our prayers in regards to Theresa.

Mary Lou has emailed me with this wonderful update that her scans and every other test have come back cancer free.

This means she will still have chemo and radiation to make sure no microscopic cancer cells are floating around in her body.

Thank you all for your prayers for her!

This is another demonstration of how God is listening and the strong power of prayer!

Please, please, please continue to pray for Theresa as she goes through chemo/radiation.

She will need our prayers to help her be strong and full of hope.

She will need us to walk beside her in this journey as her prayer warriors.

Thank you and please say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for this wonderful news!!

Blessed be God Forever!


A Bit of the Blarney: The Gift of Friendship

A Bit of the Blarney: The Gift of Friendship (please click to read this article from this wonderful blog on friendship)

I loved this so much I just had to share it! Deenna is making the trip to NY from IN to see me on Friday and I can hardly wait!!! I know that this visit means just as much to her as it does to me. You see, she is not just picking up and leaving so easily. She has had to make arrangements for her eight children while she is away so that her husband does not have to take off work. She is giving me such a special gift of her time and her presence. A presence I miss so much and I can guarantee we will be having a lot of cups of tea with warm, loving conversation!

Because of her visit, I planned to write an article on friendship. I have been blessed beyond measure with so many people I call friend. However, after being on one of my favorite blogs A Bit of Blarney I decided that why should I reinvent the wheel when all the beautiful words I want to say have already been wrote!

Enjoy the article from A Bit of Blarney; it is well worth the read!!

Blessed be God Forever!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!!!


Happy Father's Day!!
Whom could be a better role model for fathers than St. Joseph? I don't know about you, but I think I would have had a hard time with all that God was asking me to do.
First, marry someone who was pregnant despite the fact that the child was not mine and trust that the angel talking to me was not a figament of my imagination, but telling me the truth that my soon to be wife was going to have the Savior of the World and I was to be his earthly father.
Then, to pick up and run to Eygpt and the list goes on for St. Joseph.
Thank you God for giving St. Joseph to all fathers so that they make mirror his behavior.
In my opinion, St. Joseph is the ultimate man. He demonstrates all that a man needs to be. He trusted God, supported his family, and lived humbly.
Blessed be God Forever!
Prayer to Saint Joseph for Fathers
Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary, you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty. You supported the holy family of Nazareth with the work of your hands. Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you. You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes. They look to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too knew trial, labor and weariness. But amid the worries of material life, your soul was full of deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with God's Son entrusted to you and with Mary, his tender Mother. Assure those you protect that they do not labor alone. Teach them to find Jesus near them and to watch over Him faithfully as you have done.
Amen.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Flag Day


Happy Flag Day!
In honor of my Grandma (G.G. as my kids called her), I wish all of you a blessed flag day on what would have been her birthday!!!
She filled my life with many wonderful memories and lots of things to laugh about ( she looked and acted a lot like Lucille Ball).
I miss her and think of her today on her special day!
Also, Happy Birthday to Mindy! She is my cousin's wife and shared this day with my grandma.
Blessed be God forever!!!

Prayers for Elaine!

St. Peregrine



Please pray for Elaine who has recently been told she has breast cancer. She will have surgery on June 25th.
Please join me in praying for her and for all those who are sick especially those suffering with cancer.
St. Peregrine is the Patron Saint of Cancer Patients and he must be feeling like he is working over time lately with all the news about those being told they have cancer.
Let us all pray today for Elaine, Theresa, Melissa, little Ella, and all those who are sick by saying the rosary for them.
Our Lady will be more than happy to help us; we just need to call upon her.

A Prayer to St. Peregrine for One Suffering from Cancer


Dear St. Peregrine,
I need your help.
I feel so uncertain of my life right now.
This serious illness makes me long for a sign of God's love.
Help me to imitate your enduring faith when you faced the ugliness of cancer and surgery.
Allow me to trust the Lord the way you did in this moment of distress.
I want to be cured, but right now I ask God for the strength to bear the cross in my life.
I seek the power to proclaim God's presence in my life despite the hardship,anguish and fear I now experience.
O Glorious St. Peregrine, be an inspiration to me and petitioner of those needed
graces from our loving Father.

Amen.



Cancer is limited ...
It cannot cripple love, It cannot shatter hope, It cannot corrode faith, It cannot eat away peace, It cannot destroy confidence, It cannot shut out memories It cannot silence courage, It cannot invade the soul, It cannot reduce eternal life, It cannot quench the spirit, It cannot lessen the power of the Resurrection.
Here is the link to the American Cancer Society's information about breast cancer:
It seems appropriate at this time to encourage all women to do self-breast exams.
This is also the link on how to do self breast exams.
There are so many to pray for and so many things to ask God for; do not become discouraged. He is there to hear us and to help us.
Blessed be God Forever!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Please pray for one of God's little ones!!


My cousin, Mary has brought to my attention little Emily. She is four years old. In fact, she is only 2 days younger than my Lucy. She has sickle cell anemia.
Please see this link to learn more about sickle cell anemia.
I ask each of you to keep her in your prayers as she battles and as she lives with this disease.
From what I have read about her, she is not only a brave little girl, but also very strong and courageous.
She has the most adorable eyes and a smile so bright it would light up a room instantly.
I thank Mary for bringing this prayer need to my attention!
I will keep you updated on her condition as I hear more!!
For my Catholic friends, please say a "Hail Mary" for her. Our Lady is there to intercede for us and will do so with our asking!
Blessed be God forever!

Pray for those searching for God!!!


Today, please pray for all of those searching for God. Pray that they may realize God is right there with them holding their hand. Pray that they will realize that God is not a "warm-fuzzy" feeling, but a constant source of unconditional love in our lives. Pray that each day they will feel His presence and continue to long for His presence.
Searching to talk with God?? My dear Catholic friends, search no more. Jesus is waiting for you in the Tabernacle of your local Catholic Church. He is waiting to hear your concerns, your needs, your problems, your joy, your everything. Go to Him! Talk to Him as if you were talking to your friends, your husband, your mother, or your father. Then give him time to talk to you by sitting silently--even for one minute.
I guarntee you that stopping by to make a visit with our Lord daily will change your life. If you don't want to go a lone, ask a friend to go with you who is searching for God or who already makes visits to the Tabernacle.

Prayer for Those Searching for God

O Lord my God,Teach my heart this day where and how to see you,Where and how to find you.You have made me and remade me,And you have bestowed on meAll the good things I possess,And still I do not know you.I have not yet done thatFor which I was made.Teach me to seek you,For I cannot seek youUnless you teach me,Or find youUnless you show yourself to me.Let me seek you in my desire,Let me desire you in my seeking.Let me find you by loving you,Let me love you when I find you.
St. Anselm
Blessed be God Forever!!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Another New and Wonderful Blog to share with you!!!




I would like to introduce all of you to another new blog by my friend, Terri. She is a very delightful soul who fills each person she comes across with sunshine!! She is a genuine individual who puts a lot of heart and soul into her life!! I have been blessed to have her in my life for over 15 years.
I think you will find her blog refreshing and coming from her heart!! Welcome to the blogging world my dear friend!!
Blessed be God Forever!!

It's Julia's 2nd Birthday!!!


Happy Birthday to little Julia!
I hope your day at the zoo with your mommy was a wonderful one!
Julia is one of Lucy's buddies and such a sweetheart she is!
May this day and all your days be filled with the wonder of God’s special love for you.
Happy Birthday and a blessed year filled with much joy and laughter for you, Julia!!
Love and birthday prayers from
Maria Rose and Lucy and their mommy
Blessed Be God Forever!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

This just in on Melissa Hackney!!!!!!!!!!

Just received a text message from Patti, Melissa's mom and she has informed me that after 8 weeks and one day in ICU, Melissa has been transferred back to the bone marrow unit!!

Blessed be God forever!!

I hope each of you can see the power of prayer working here with this beautiful young woman!!

Thank you for all your prayers!!

Blessed Be God Forever!!

Update on Melissa Hackney


Melissa is making slow, but steady progress.
The team of doctors are considering moving her from the ICU to the step down unit or back to the bone marrow unit.
This is such exciting news!
The neurologists was able to get her to smile.
Her sister, Rebecca was able to get her to nod her head on which nail color she wanted Rebecca to use on her finger nails.
She continues to move her fingers and toes as well as her head.
Melissa is being set up in a chair for 2 hours per day and on Sunday, she was able to be put in the chair and taken outside to feel God's beautiful presence in the sunshine.
What a wonderful day for Melissa and her family!!
She is no longer on dialysis!!
Her recovery will be slow and her family has realized that she will probably not be home before summer is over.
She will have to be in rehab, which will extensive and long.
Your prayers have been the stronghold for her and her family.
I cannot thank all of you enough for your prayers and your continued praying for this beautiful person!!
Her mother, Patti thanks you as well.
Continue praying and I will continue to keep you updated!!
Blessed be God forever!!
Thanks be to God!!!
Don't forget your rosary today!!

Check out this new blog!!!!!!


Please take the time to check out my friend, Shabby Chick's new blog.

It is a delight to read and full of wisdom that she is writing for her kids.

She is an amazing mother, wonderful friend, and full of much wisdom and care.

Please stop by and say hi and check out her site.

Blessed be God forever!!

Monday, June 9, 2008

How can anyone doubt that life begins at conception?? Check out this story!! Blessed Be God forever!!

Medical marvel: Baby Macie Hope was born twice
Returned to womb after life-saving surgery, she arrived 10 weeks later


June 6: When her mother was six months pregnant, baby Macie Hope was taken out of the womb for life-saving surgery, then returned for 10 more weeks. TODAY’s Ann Curry talks to Macie’s parents, Chad and Keri McCartney, and Dr. Darrell Cass, the fetal surgeon who operated on Macie.


When Chad and Keri McCartney say their infant daughter, Macie Hope, is born again, they aren’t referring to religion — the month-old miracle baby really was born twice.
The first “birth” was about six months into Keri McCartney’s pregnancy, when surgeons at Texas Children’s Hospital took the tiny fetus from Keri’s womb to remove a tumor that would have killed Macie before she was born.
The second time was on May 3, when the McCartneys welcomed their surgically repaired — and perfectly healthy — baby girl into the world.

The happy couple talked exclusively to TODAY’s Ann Curry on Friday from the hospital, where they were joined by Dr. Darrell Cass, the fetal surgeon who led the team that performed a surgery that has been successfully completed fewer than 20 times around the world. In Macie’s case, he said, “We were very, very fortunate. It really turned out perfectly.”
The McCartneys’ story began in Keri’s 23rd week of pregnancy, when the couple took their entire family to their obstetrician’s office to discover the sex of the baby Keri was carrying.
“We had our whole family,” Chad McCartney told Curry. “Our four kids had piled into the van, and we headed to our routine ultrasound to find out what the sex of the baby was going to be. That was the big discussion on the way up, so there was lots of excitement.”
A deadly revelationEveryone went into the ultrasound room, eager to see the image of the fetus displayed on the screen. “All of a sudden the ultrasound tech had a very concerned look on her face,” Chad said. “She rushed our kids out of the room and then informed us there was a large mass on our baby.”
The ultrasound image showed what looked like a balloon growing out of Macie’s tailbone — except that it was full of blood vessels and was as big as the fetus itself. The tumor was noncancerous ... but still deadly.
“This tumor was gigantic,” Cass said. “It was the size of a grapefruit.”
The McCartneys’ obstetrician had never seen such a tumor in all her years of practice. After some research, she discovered that Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston — six hours away from the family’s Laredo home — was one of only three hospitals in the world that specialized in such conditions.
“This is incredibly rare. It’s about one in 40,000 births,” Cass said. “Many times, these tumors
TODAY
Baby Macie’s ultrasound showed the tumor.
can grow and remain small and they don’t really affect the fetus very significantly. In Macie’s instance, this tumor grew incredibly rapidly … and basically it was stealing the blood that her body needed to grow. She would have died if nothing had been done.”
A fitting nameKeri and Chad went home with the desperate prognosis and decided they needed to name their infant right then.
“We both made a decision that we have a name for her, because we had been told that there was less than a 10 percent chance that she was going to make it,” Chad McCartney said, fighting back tears as he told the story. “We wanted to pick a name that would be appropriate, so we named her Macie Hope — because that was all we felt we had.”
They went to Houston for the surgery, which Cass described, with a surgeon’s understatement, as “tricky.”
“It required that Mrs. McCartney went under a very, very deep anesthesia, about seven times deeper than the average operation,” he said. “That’s necessary in order to have the uterus very, very relaxed.”
He and two other surgeons opened Keri’s abdomen and brought her uterus entirely outside her body. “We had to find an area of the uterus that we could open safely so that we didn’t disturb the placenta,” he explained.
When they found such a place, they opened the relaxed womb and extracted about 80 percent of Macie Hope’s body — which weighed no more than a quarter of a pound — leaving just the head and upper body in the womb. Exposing the fetus to the air carried the danger that she would go into cardiac arrest, and the surgeons worked quickly to remove the tumor and return Macie to the safety of the womb.
That part of the four-hour procedure took about 20 minutes. The surgeons then had to carefully close up the uterus so that it would be watertight, to keep the amniotic fluid from leaking out.
“Then we had to hope that the pregnancy was going to last,” Cass added.
Born againThat hope was also answered. Macie Hope didn’t make it the entire nine months, but, Cass said, “The pregnancy lasted another 10 weeks, which allowed Macie to recover from this tumor that had been killing her.”
On May 3, Macie Hope was born again, this time to stay. She and her mother have remained at Texas Medical Center since as they both fully recover from the miracle surgery. Macie still has a large scar on her backside, which surgeons say can be repaired when she gets older.
Keri and Chad McCartney were expecting to take their miracle baby home on Saturday, and they couldn’t have been happier.
“We are doing great,” Keri McCartney told Curry. “I am so excited to think that we’re leaving tomorrow.”
She cradled Macie Hope in her arms. The infant, sporting a thick head of hair, slept through it all, prompting her mother to say, “Obviously she is completely at peace and content with it all.”

Friday, June 6, 2008

Congratulations Kaysha!!


Congratulations Kaysha on your high school graduation!
I am so proud of the young woman you have become!
Go out and discover what life has to offer you!
Go out and make a difference in the world!
Go out and be the person God created you to be!
Go out and let your light shine!
Blessed be God Forever!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Happy Birthday Aunt Shelia and Sue!

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Shelia and my godmother, Sue!!

May your day be filled with much joy!!

Know you are loved and thought of; today I will say a special prayer for you in honor of your birthday.

Blessed be God Forever!


Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Prayer

Someone just said to me,"There are so many prayer requests on your blog; how do you expect me to keep up with them? You need to be more selective on what you are asking others to pray for!"
This came from a person I consider to be a good follower of God; however, I strongly disagree with them that I need to be more selective on what I ask others to pray for. There is nothing like the power of pray. If there was, then our Lord would not have taught us how to pray with the Our Father.
If you feel like you are getting over loaded with prayers, keep a small notebook with each persons name and reason wrote in it. This makes it easy to go through your list at night or offer up parts of your day for a particular person. You can also offer up short prayers such as "blessed be God forever," "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,"I love you Jesus," "hear me oh, Lord," and many many more.
Don't stop praying because you feel overwhelmed with the amount of prayers you have been asked for from others. Even something as simple as "Dear Lord, I now offer up this prayer for all those I have promised to pray for. Please hear their prayers and my petition to you to answer them according to your Will." This can be said on a day when you are so busy that you feel you just can't fit in any other praying time.
However, as wise priest once said (I think it was Fr. Larry) that everyone needs a half hour of prayer a day except when you are busy, then you need an hour.
Have trouble praying? Start out with 5 minutes each day in a quiet spot. After a week or so, increase it to 10 minutes. You get the idea from there. You will find that it will be hard to stop praying even after 30 minutes. Just talk to God as if you were talking to your best friend or sister/brother. God is a much better listener. However, take some time for silence and let God talk to you. You will be amazed what type of messages He will leave in your heart.
For those of you who are Catholic, go to church and sit in front of the Blessed Tabernacle. Talk to Jesus. Let Him here what is in your heart. Let Him share in your concerns, griefs, worries, joys, sorrows, and share with Him your prayer requests. He is there sitting in the Church waiting for you to come to Him.
Pray and Pray and Pray and Pray!!
God is not selective on what prayers He will here and not here. Therefore, I will NEVER be selective on who I bring to you for prayers. I also ask that those of you who read this blog bring your prayer requests to me so that we can storm heaven with prayers.
God Bless and Have a great night!
Blessed Be God Forever!
Catholics: don't forget your rosary!!
Our God is an Awesome God!!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Please pray for Theresa, a young mom with bilateral breat cancer!!!


Prayers for Theresa

Theresa has been diagnosed with bilateral (meaning both breasts) breast cancer.

At 36 weeks pregnant with her first child, she received devastating news that she had breast cancer in both breasts. The whirlwind began with a three day long failed induction @ aprrox 37 weeks pregnant and eventually ended a c-section delivery of her beautiful son!(see picture of Theresa and her son above)

Due to having a c-section, her bilateral mastectomy was postponed for a couple of weeks. In the meantime, she will be having scans/MRIs/x-rays of every major organ in her body and blood testing to see if the disease has moved to other parts.

She is going to begin chemo and radiation treatments within the next few weeks as well.


I would like to ask all of you reading my blog to pray for Theresa and her family as they begin the journey of battling this disease. Remember that God hears our prayers and if we can storm heaven with prayers for Theresa then what peace she and her family have while going through this hard time. St. Paul reminds u: We can and should 'pray constantly' (1thes. 5:17).



Prayer for Women with Breast Cancer
Father, for the strength you have given me I thank you. For the health you have blessed me with, I thank you. For the women who are going through breast cancer and their families I ask you to strengthen and to heal as you see fit. Lord we know you want us to be in good health and to prosper. Lord use us to do the work you have for us to do. For we know time is getting short on this earth. Lord be with every woman who is sick and encourage them as only you can. I know how faithful you are. You have shown yourself to be everything you say you are in your Holy Word. I praise you for you made this body and you can heal this body.
I will keep you updated on Theresa as I hear from her friends in regards to how things are going for her.
We are praying for you Theresa! We are there to let you know we care!
Blessed be God Forever!!
For my Catholic friends, offering your rosary up today for Theresa would be a wonderful gift for her.
Thank you!

Happy Birthday to my Maria Rose!!!




Happy 4th Birthday to my Maria Rose!!




It seems like only yesterday my little one came into the world 9 weeks early and with only a 20% chance of making it.




She is a miracle and the product of the power of pray!




Today, not only do I pray in thanksgiving for her birhtday, but I pray for all of you who prayed for her 4 years ago today!


She is named after the Blessed Mother and St. Rose of Lima. I only knew she would be a girl about an hour before she was taken by emergency c-section.

We did not have any names picked out and so when they told me she was a girl it came to me that she should be Maria Rose. since I prayed to the Blessed Mother continously during those hours of uncertainty.

Rose is a family name from my husband's side (we saw it on a grave stone at the Catholic Cemetry in the town we grew up in) and since I also like St. Rose, so her name fit our criteria of a family name and saint name put together.


My sister-in-law, Margaret (also MR's godmother) asked if we were going to call her Maria or Maria Rose. I asked her what she thought and she said Maria Rose. We went with that decision and so thankful for Aunt Margaret's suggestion. It fits her perfect! However, our little Lucy calls her big sister Rose.
Blessed be God forever!
Today, could you pray for all those little sick babies in the NICU's across the world and for all the doctors, nurses, etc., ect. who work so hard to help them.
Thank you!


Our God is an Awesome God!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Happy Birthday Mom!!!





Happy Birthday Mom!!


My Mother

My Mother,


my friend so dear


throughout my life you're always near.


A tender smile to guide my way


You're the sunshine to light my day.



- Author Unknown.



May your day be filled with the love you give so freely to others!



I love you!



Blessed Be God Forever!!


















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