Catholics
Comments
-
Hood,
I'm checking in with you to know when you might expect your biopsy results? We are praying for an all clear for you. Hang in there.
0 -
Hi sisters,
I came back from the urgent care and the doctor was very very thorough and I like him a lot
, he's better than my own primary doctor! So I am hoping that I can switch to his practice.Well, my skin rash could be one of three things....
1). maybe I am coming down with a virus, maybe because my husband is having some symptoms.
2). maybe it was what I ate on Tuesday evening, I took a tiny bite of something similar to Melba toast and instantly my lips and tongue was a bit itchy...
3). more likely it is radiation dermatitis, because the rash looks exactly like the rash on my breast and it grew to below the breast towards the stomach, and going down the left arm. It is also on my face and both ears, but nothing in my legs.
So he prescribed prednisone and Hydroxyz HCL for itch and a cortisone 2.5% lotion which they didn't have today. I have yet to take the Hydroxyz...
0 -
Hi All,
Wow - so much happens in this thread during the week! Welcome Alice and Erin. So sorry to hear about stupid 16 year old boys.....however, some nitwits never grow up. This past summer I finally gave up the wig - my hair was about 1/4" all around and I just couldn't wear the scarves, wig, etc. in the heat anymore. That week several things happened with my nearly bald head:
1. I had to meet someone for lunch related to my work. I walked in to the lunch area and the 60 year old (AKA big goofy16 year old) shouted out, "Holy cow, did you mean to do that with your hair?" So, yup, everyone in the joint turned to look at me. I burst out laughing and shouted back, "hey, at least I have some on top." Yes, Erin, men go bald in their old age. I wish early baldness on those stupid boys.
2. I was in the WAWA (convenience store out here) with my nearly bald head and my sparkly sunglasses. A woman (stranger) came up to me and said, "Not everyone could get away with that haircut, you look fabulous." God bless her, she made my day!
So, Erin, the world is full of stupid and stupendous people - focus on the stupendous and forget the stupid ones. Hard to do when you're 16 years old and not totally self-confident yet - but, you're already more mature than most your age, anyway!
And, I need to answer the question re the 7 fishes for Christmas Eve! As some of us remember, Catholics were forbidden to eat fish on every Friday in commemoration of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on Good Friday. Fish and pasta (or sometimes tomato pie) in my house were the norm every Friday. On Christmas Eve,, it's the same reason - abstaining from meat the night before a major holyday. There are no special fish - just no meats. Some say the number 7 is a representation of the 7 sacraments (baptism, penance, confirmation, holy eucharist, marriage, extreme unction, and holy orders) - but I am not sure of that. I'm going to take a cooking class on Wed Dec 15 on the seven fishes because I'm tired of the same old and counting the anchovy in the antipasto as one of the 7 (lol). I'll post the recipes I get for y'all.
Had my first accupuncture on Friday morning for the side effects of the Femara. I'm in a clinical trial and you don't know if you're in the real or fake accupuncture group. I think I'm in the fake because it didn't make a darn bit of difference for me. However, the experience of having these long skinny needles sticking out of various places on your body was interesting. I have 9 more weekly "treatments" - so, maybe I'm just a cynic...or it takes several treatments to feel anything different. Doesn't hurt and might help - so, what the heck!
I am finally feeling some energy - 1 year after surgery and months after last radiation and half year since last chemo. I signed up for a nearby community center's membership so I can start swimming and execising again. They have a child care service, so I can stop using my live-in 4-year old grandson as an excuse for not doing anything for myself. I started my membership 12/26 - have that week off from work so easier to get started.
Re being afraid of something big - I get scared too. Psalm 23:4 I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. a prayer from St. Columba: "Alone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when thou art near O King of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand than if a host did round me stand."
Hugs to all! xx Pat
0 -
Bless your heart Paula. I am so happy you went, and I am shocked at extent of this. Have you ever heard of radiation dermatitis going up on the face and ears? Now it sounds like the other ear is involved. This just blows my mind. Please keep us posted on your recovery, and I insist it be recovery! The hydroxyzine should help too. I was thinking about you last night wondering how you were. Godspeed on your Healing.
0 -
Pat,
How wonderful to see you. I think we are on the same time schedule, as I am finally getting some energy back, and this is 8 months after chemo (I am always one to lag behind.) It feels different doesn't it? I still can wipe out if I overdo, but I think the swimming and exercising sounds fabulous. Since I increased my hours at work, I now and walking a lot in my day, or up and down stairs. Add three dog walks, and I am done.
If you want to do any studying about the acupuncture, there are specific places where the needles would go. Now they may be sneaky and have them very close by, but I believe they are on meridians and very specific places in the body. I did it once, and because of my misdiagnosis of all my nerve entrapment's, of course it was not going to work. I did however notice that winter that I was "warmer." and tolerated the cold much better. So I do think there is some merit in there. It does take awhile to notice any difference I think.
I am excited to hear about your cooking classes and the recipes. Not that I cook, it's just interesting to me
Have a Blessed Day with your grand-baby!
0 -
Hi therese,
Is the San Damiano retreat house anywhere near Alexandria VA?
0 -
Sisters - I just pooped out last night and didn't post the Pope Benedict meditation for yesterday. Skip made delicious split pea and ham soup and it just made me ill (indigestion). Oh well. Here is yesterday's mediation.
December 4, 2010
Saturday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Mt 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8The Lord will give you the bread you need
and the water for which you thirst.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher. Is 30:20Advent, therefore, is a favourable time for the rediscovery of a hope that is not vague and deceptive but certain and reliable, because it is "anchored" in Christ, God made man,
the rock of our salvation.
Homily in Celebration of the First Vespers of the
First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 20070 -
Ellie - San Damiano Spiritual Life Center is in White Post, VA in the Shenandoah Valley. About 70 miles from Alexandria. From what I understand, they have rooms for overnight guests. It's well worth the trip - Fr. Sam leads the retreat and he's really good.
http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/offices/spirituality_center.php
Good to hear from you Pat! I'll be up in South Jersey this week for work. I'm excited to be meeting with my Franciscan spiritual director tomorrow night. I'm just so afraid that I'll have to drop my formation b/c Skip and I haven't found a "home" here yet. He contacted someone in the Fredericksburg chapter. We'll see.
Today, part of Father's homily was about the St. Francis Prayer and how we should take it to heart this advent, especially. He is not a Franciscan, so I thought it was special that he should mention it. I keep getting those little nudges and signs out of the blue, telling me to be persistent and keep on with it.
I forget who said on this thread that they are so weepy! Maybe Tori. I'm so like that. EVERY Mass I go to, I get all teary eyed. I try so hard to not bring attention to myself, so I blink, blink, blink until the tears go away. It's either the readings, or the homily, or the songs... I couldn't even sing the offertory hymn... Lo, How a Rose 'er Blooming.
I remember giving up my wig this summer too, with about 1/2 inch growth. I felt so self-conscious, but most everyone was kind or didn't say anything. Like Pat, one woman approached me in a convenience store and told me how wonderful my hair looked and she wished she could get away with it. It made my day. The things we have to go through with this "beast".
Paula, I'm glad you went to the doctor. It sounds like you're on the mend. You are in my prayers for recovery.
I'll post today's Pope Benedict mediation later.
0 -
Theresa,
I'm so glad you will be back with your Franciscan Spiritual Director. Did you Mass in Arlington today? Not sure if my friends' family goes there anymore, they used to be very active. Have you and Skip looked at any Churches in D.C.? I could do a little research if you like.
Let us rediscover hope, as this is necessary to healing. There is an excellent book by Viktor Frankl, "Man's Search for Meaning," which is all about the hope needed to live under the most dire circumstances. That hope dictated one's ability to live and thrive.
I struggle with hope, and not just in relation to Cancer. But I do try to find positives even amongst naysayers. So I guess it's buried, but in there
0 -
Second Sunday of Advent
Readings: Is 11:1-10; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them. Is 11:5-6Advent is particularly suited to being a season lived in communion with all those who-and thanks be to God they are numerous-hope for a more just and a more fraternal world. In this commitment to justice, people of every nationality and culture, believers and non-believers, can to a certain extent meet. Indeed, they are all inspired by a common desire, even if their motivations are different, for a future of justice and peace.
Homily in Celebration of the First Vespers
of the First Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2006__________________________________
Hope for a more just and a more fraternal world. Hope must be the word of the day! Traci, you were onto something. We can have hope because Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament ... a little child *does* lead us. The Christ Child. Jesus lived among us and gave us a living example of how the wolf can be the guest of the lamb, and the leopard can lie down with the kid, etc.
0 -
Traci - no, we attend Mass out where we live. When we go to Colonial Beach, we attend there. It's a Franciscan Fraternity that we're seeking to join... it does not have to be associated with our parish. It was coincidental that our South Jersey fraternity *was* associated with our parish. There were many in our group who came from other local parishes. Skip is already an SFO, so he really needs to be the one to make the contacts and lead us here in VA. He contacted the minister in the Fredericksburg fraternity, so we might attend one of their meetings after the holidays... their next meeting is this Saturday, when I'll be on retreat at San Damiano. I am continuing (I hope) my formation at our fraternity up in South Jersey, until we can find one here. I'm just afraid (bad emotion) that winter and distance will cause us to not attend more than attend. But I will *hope* that things will work out in God's Plan, not mine. :-)
0 -
Theresa - is it possible for you/Skip to start a brand new fraternity here? Maybe that could be the answer.
0 -
Paula,
Please let us know how you are doing. I'm getting worried because we have not heard from you.
0 -
And the Belief of All Is a belief in love-------------------- Love Shela
0 -
Hi Sweet Sheila,
Thinking about you
I saw the Biography channel I survived...death and back. Very spiritual, very calming and the last word the woman used at 12:00 AM was she wanted to share....HOPE.
Bless you all, and sweet dreams.
0 -
Hi All, Traci ~
Thank you for asking about me Traci
I thought I posted early but it didn't show up (LOL). I even posted a photo of my Christmas Tree. I had 2 helpers this year, usually I am the control freak that had to do it. This time, I gave instructions to my kids, simple drawings on paper, color placement and voila, they did it. I am very happy that I can pass the baton!About my rash, I was hesitant taking the prednisone this morning, the pharmacist said that to take it early so I won't be wide awake at night. So I started them this morning. I did take the Hydrozyne last night and got 50% improvement. I guess I will just have to deal with this hurdle, thought I could celebrate already. Not so fast
Just to let you all in ahead of time, I have the Advent prayer for week #2, #3 and #4.
About prayer meetings:
Remember we talked about doing something a bit different because this is truly antiquated? If on another site with a different medium, the leader can see who has signed on, can prepare power point and any prayers you want to recite together without having to go back-n-forth to different page and there's no cue to whomever had just joined or signed on. Everytime you needed to see who's present will require "refreshing" the screen and even if you've refreshed the screen, another person might have posted something and the timing is just not in sync.
With the prayers that we want to pray, IMHO, that we need to have a topic and a deadline. Sometimes we are doing it on the fly. I believe most if not all of you have a printer. Do you want me to prepare it on a Pdf file and email it to each person so it can be printed and not needing to go back-n-forth on the screen? Archiving is good but also required to flip back-n-forth. I am just trying to help eliminate the problem and the lag time.
The chat room is also a good medium but having the prayers printed out first is the key. The chat room allows each of us to see who logs in and who is present, even if someone is late signing in, there's no need for anyone of us to keep "refreshing" the screen. We could continue to pray and there's no interruptions. There's no lurkers because everyone has to sign in. You only have to have "Explorer" internet browser. (Traci, I can walk you thru downloading one, just need you to call me on the phone in order to do so).
If we don't come up with a consensus, then I guess we'll just stick to this old deal. But I thought that I need to at least bring it up for discussion. Kindly give your feedback
Good night,
Paula
p.s. My new avatar is the Christmas Tree that we did. Blue/Silver/White, jingle bells jingle bells...
0 -
Hi Paula,
Love the tree! My son came and did mine as he had done last year. My husband (who hates decorating) also joined in. It's so nice having cheery stuff around the house, isn't it? No matter what the day is like, Christmas lights cheer me up.
Don't count on me re the chat room or another technology - I'm usually pooped out Friday nights and go to bed early. So I don't think I should vote or input.
Theresa - I realized this morning you come back to my area pretty often....and sometimes I'm down in Alexandria to visit one of my sons and his family. We ought to figure out how to meet and give each other a hug.
I brought my grandson to see Santa yesterday - after a 1 hour wait (arrgghhh the knees were killing!) he got to talk with him. Pretty funny - suddenly turned shy and spoke very quietly but knew what he wanted - "I want video Lego Batman and Mario with a player" - good thing I happened to have known that and got a great deal on black Friday....if this kid changes his mind, I'm outta luck!
We're talking about the baby Jesus and how we're celebrating his birthday - but he is still pretty focused on the gifts!
Hugs,
Pat
0 -
Weekends are sometimes stressful for me, especially when I play at 3 churches.. i get mixed up.
May God be with us all in this middle of Advent time.
0 -
My son and his family live in Alexandria, and I visit often, so would love to meet any sisters!
Ellie
0 -
Morning all,
Happy St. Nicholas Day! My son Nick was born today and that's how he got his name.
Here's a link with more on how one might celebrate this day. My kids woke up to shoes stuffed with treats. http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=76
Here too is a little pick me up, perhaps you have seen it a hundred times already. I just LOVE the Hallelujah chorus sung out in the public square. I tear up each and every time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE
Hope everyone is doing well today. I am now 10 days out from chemo and still look forward to feeling a bit better. Edema in my legs is slowing this mom of 6 down a bit. I see the oncologist tomorrow. This may be due to my Lapatinib clinical trail that has to continue to surgery, yet to be scheduled.
God Bless all.
Alice
0 -
Good Morning All,
Paula, I am glad to have heard from you! And your tree is lovely, and isn't it just wonderful to have your own Santa's Little Helpers? I am completely supportive of organized prayers and real time meetings. I do have Explorer, and we can try but my Computer is very messed up. I think it will be after XMas sales for me for the laptop. I am going to ask my Sister what she did with her old lap top. My current computer issue is big, I had to take off a lot of programs due to their corruption. If I want to read a link to an article that I am reading, I have to open another window. When I tried to go to chat, I could not "see" the log in. I will gladly keep trying. If you don't mind, I would love to have your assistance with our Friday prayers. I think it's a great idea to pass around a PDF. And my printer doesn't work anymore due to my computer issues. I have a Kinkos right around the corner though, so could easily printout prayers if they were the day before.
Most importantly Get Better!!! When do you follow up with your Radiation Onc? Do you think they should take a look?
(PS home today, all little under the weather...)
0 -
Alice,
So nice to see you again. So at day 10 are you feeling a bit more like yourself? So you have leg swelling? I am not familiar with the trial, but glad you will have MD's and Nurses paying very close attention to you. Both you and Tori girl are in chemo mode. The colder weather brought me back to last year. All of my chemo was during the winter months, and I was surprised at how real the memory was. Bless you all in your journeys. I don't know if it give you comfort to know we do understand.
We also have our Sister Prayersareanswered who may have begun her chemo? Does anyone know?
So Alice, you remind me that it is time to get out all of my XMas music. I will do that today....soon.
0 -
Just a few notes from last nights series on Biography. I think it was called I survived Beyond and Back (I didn't get that right earlier.)
so here are some of the wonderful experiences...Some were given the choice to stay or go, so were told they would be returning to life on earth. The message was about the experiences that they needed to go through and one was told "We are not ready for you yet..." Family and friends appearing, glorious all around the age of 30 (I have heard that many times,) happy happy and full of love.
The sense of being loved and accepted for all parts of ourselves. Overwhelming feelings of love and peace, and non judgemental. I really listened to that, as this very healing to me.
One man said he had so many issues with relationships before, and was an introvert. He said he now loved EVERYBODY. and it was clear that this was his genuine truth. He also is much more of an extrovert, as if he let go of the fear of human interaction. (italics are my thoughts only.)
One young man who had a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 16, and was "down" for over 20 minutes met his grandmother, who appeared to him as a 30 year old. He was drawn to a door, and he met his grandmother on the steps before the door. He said it was clear that on the other side was anyone he had ever met, ever interacted with and also people he had never met. And they were all there for him, supporting him. He was given a choice...
and....of great importance to me and I am sure most if not all of us...one woman absolutely was surrounded by cats and dogs (I missed if there were other animals,) she did not know them but they ran up and jumped right into "the light," without hesitation.
When one man was talking about seeing his mother and grandmother, and so wanting to join them, he began to choke up, as he was told they were not ready for him yet. I could hear and see how much he missed his loved ones, and this just hit me in my heart. I just miss my mother so much. I cannot wait to see her again! I can picture how beautiful she is...and we have a gorgeous picture of her in my Dad's apartment when she was around the age of 30.
We are each on a journey, and there is work to do here. We are all in this together, and I Pray to stay present with this. We will see each other again, there is life after life, and we need to be kind to ourselves. Have faith in our abilities to learn with each challenge.
I will end with something that may or may not resonate, and I hope does not offend. I just feel the need to share. This is something that was easier with my cancer, but not so easy with my chronic pain. I need to let go of the anger at my pain. I am giving up my power when I rail against it. If I look it in the eye, it will become lesser, to the point of just being what it is. I need to accept that I have been brought to a different place for a reason. Anger only becomes disabling, and creates more pain. If not for myself, than for others. Cancer does not have to make me into a bitter angry person. In fact, it can help bring out the loving person that exists in each one of us.
so I am off to play some beautiful music, and if my dog is lucky (or unlucky
I may play along with The Holly and the Ivy, just for my mother.0 -
Alice - thank you so much for posting. Tears were running down my face watching the video. It was incredibly moving to see Christ present in those singers in the middle of a mall food court. Alleluia indeed!
0 -
To Do God's Will
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Oh divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we recieve; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Attributed to Francis of Assisi
0 -
Traci - one of my very favorites!
And I relate to the futility of anger and finding a balance -- being angry enough to fight whatever the problem is but not angry enough to take the energy away from the fight. It's a slippery slope!
0 -
Janet,
I found prayer handout given to us when my mom was in Hospice. I will share a few others too that are based around dealing with illness.
The anger "stuff" stems from my observations around the cycling of anger in a few threads. It's hard to watch people falling into the trap of anger. I fell into myself just last week with my co-worker. I believe that this is the person's way of getting someone else to deal with their anger or whatever emotions that are too overwhelming. I allowed myself to get suckered into it, and when I watch the mayhem on a few of the threads here, it is crystal clear. The poster successfully baited and is being duly rewarded, and it's a feeding frenzy. Anger is dangerous business at times, and incredibly unhealthy. But it takes two to tango...
as the Priest said on the talk show (he was being harassed by one person, and the audience was jumping in to defend him, and the level of anger was rising quickly...) "Do not give him energy."
Diffused. What would happen if people didn't take the bait? I'll let you know, as I am done taking the bait.
0 -
Squid,one of my all time favorites as well! Thanks for posting. Janet, I know what you mean.
During this Christmas season, ask the Blessed Mother to help you, especially if you are anxious, in need, or hurting in any way. Come to her altar in confident prayer. Ask for her assistance and guidance. She will gladly provide you with the graces you seek.
0 -
Squid, I think we must have been posting at the same time! Wherever two or more are gathered. . .:)
I love love "do not give him energy" Now if I could only remember it when I need it. Although I am very slow to anger, I think it is a great phrase. Did I ever tell you guys that I did my doctoral dissertation for psych on womens' anger? Lol
0 -
LMFSM,
Wow! If you ever want to share, I am all ears. That must have been a complicated dissertation.
It was so beautiful when the Priest said it...in his Irish brogue, completely unaffected and calm.
I think anger can become like an addiction. I even find myself getting physically charged when I am reading the back and forth. I think anger has it's place in life, in regards to motivation. But rarely have I even seen an argument between two people where there wasn't damage done to the psyche and to the heart and soul. It's a lose lose.
0
