Catholics
Comments
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Welcome BJ! I understand COMPLETELY about the burned out feeling. I'm going through that now and pray that one day I'll be able to retire from the corporate world and work in a church job or something along that line. My husband took the leap (he works for the diocese), but he's 10 years older than I am, so I feel I have to keep on keeping on for awhile and pray. He's able to walk over to the Cathedral, too, for prayer.
My husband's family lives in Washington State - Shelton and Kenmore.
Janet - PLEASE share with me how to post pictures! I saw where you posted those lovely roses on the gardening thread. That's one thing I really want to get back into this spring.
We have an old Nativity scene... the manger belonged to my former in-laws, but the figures are plastic, so the children can play with them. There's only one or two original pieces from when I was a kid (not ceramic, but some kind of plaster), then the rest are from when my kids were little and played with it, now my grandsons can play with it. Maybe one day I'll grow up and have an adult Nativity scene. God Bless St. Francis for giving us the Creche!
Skip threw out his back putting up Christmas lights yesterday, so my oldest grandson and I went to church this morning and I took him to breakfast at Tastee Freeze. He thought that was great! I have to admit that I'm hiding in our office b/c my nerves are about shot. Usually the grandsons go to their father's on the weekends leaving Skip and I to a quiet house after working all week, but they're here this weekend. They're full of energy and I'm not, but I have so much housework to do. Please keep me in your prayers for peace of mind. It's also Skip's birthday, so I'm trying to make a birthday cake etc. Lord help me.
Tori - thank you for the Our Lady of Guadalupe prayer.
The get daily "Grace Lines" in my email, and this is what was posted today and felt it is so true ... especially the part about the mean-spiritedness of our times:
"I've heard people say that forgiveness is for wimps. Well, I say then that they
must never have tried it. Forgiveness is hard work. It demands diligent, self-
discipline, constant corralling of our basest instincts, custody of the tongue,
and a steadfast refusal not to get caught up in the mean-spiritedness of our times."
Marietta Jaegger- Lane
Mother of a murdered child0 -
Theresa,
I am praying right now for you to have peace today, and to take very good care as you go about your day. I'm sorry to hear that Skip hurt his back, please do wish him a happy birthday, and I hope you will only clean that which has to be done today. Bless you Theresa, please don't overdue...I worry about you.
Yes, there is a mean spiritedness that causes me much sadness. My ears are constantly assaulted with foul language and there are gangs and drugs all around some of our clinics. That's some of the reasons why we try to reach out to communities and people who are trying to survive under great stress. I too think I know why Mary cries. Let us pray for the safety of all who are trying to do good works in the world. May they be Divinely Protected.
I am watching The Bishop's Wife right now, and that's a nice calming way to spend a Sunday afternoon, scrapbooking
Our family's Nativity Scene was all in wood and straw was glued to the floor of the barn. There was a beautiful shimmery Gold fabric my mother would always put it on, and I have the fabric in my own decor. I have a little Christmas scene in the non working fireplace...a little porcelain Irish Church, glass trees, wooden sleighs, and my Angels right next to mom's ashes. The gold fabric is underneath along with a beautiful green/gold material.
So B.J., I hope you know you can come to us for support and love as you go through chemo/rads and beyond. If you need to be held, just ask and we will do out best. If you need a special prayer, we can make it out focus on Friday nights.
And lastly for now:
Can we all have a special Prayer Session this Friday Night? I would like each one of us to submit a prayer or more for Christmas and what it means to you. It does not have to be in prayer form...I will most likely share feelings and thoughts of the Season. I will be up in Rochester with my Dad and Sister on Christmas God willing, and I may have her laptop to use. There is one computer in the building for the residents too...I understand there will be prayers that the ladies in the Stage IV thread will be having on Christmas day, and I hope we can join them. Janet posted about this.
and Jeannine and Sheila are heavy in my thoughts today, I am worried about our Sisters.
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Dear all,
Sorry I haven't been able to come here in the last couple of weeks. I got back to work two weeks ago and it has been extremely busy. I was intially scheduled to start chemo (6 x TAC every three weeks) this Monday Dec 13 but I am home sick with a bad cold (cough, headache, congestion, sore throat, and now no voice). My Oncologist has decided that we would delay by one week. The chemo nurse just called me to say that my first chemo will then be Dec 21 at 9.30am.
I had my port installed on Dec 3 already.
My husband is adjusting well at his new job. Kids were quite upset during the first week when they had to stay at day care from 7.30am until 6pm. When my husband was out of work, he would take them there at 8.45am and pick them up at 3pm.
It is a good thing I have this extra week to prepare for chemo since the first two weeks back to work were not easy.
Have any of you heard of cleaningforareason.org ? I would like to get some help with housework and I heard they provide free housecleaning for cancer patients.
Hope everyone is doing well. You are in my thoughts and my prayers amazing ladies. God bless you!
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Tori,
I missed your Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day, thank you, I will sit quietly with it.
and thanks to all in regards to my kiddo. The food is officially in production, and we are looking at it coming in sometime this week. Praise God! She is back on the antibiotics, as she still has an allergy to the rice in her current food, which we started Friday. She not sick like she was a month ago, so I am thankful. We are almost there
The port coming out is much easier than in....much less soreness. It really only lasted that day, and I have 4 steri strips to show for it. I am still so glad that I opted to get it.0 -
THeresa - not much worse than back spasms. Tell Skip to take it easy. And you too! I think this is the poem I used to read when my kids were little. I worked full time (the family bread winner), traveled a lot, and was exhausted by th time I got home on weekends -- an endless list of chores to do. But...the chores can wait another week! The poem is about little ones - but it makes sense even today without little ones -- when there is too much to do and never enough time:
Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
by Ruth Hulburt HamiltonOn pictures: turns out you can't post pictures directly from your hard drive. So first thing to do is open a free account on one of the online photo sites. I use Kodak's OFoto (just google kodak albums and you'll find it). There's another one called photobucket or if you have Facebook that works. Then upload your picture from your camera or your hard drive to the online album. Then, SUPPOSEDLY, all you have to do is click the little tree (insert/edit photo) icon here on BCO right next to the smiley face. Copy/paste the url of your picture and then click insert. Except it doesn't work for me. But I found that once I get the pic online, I can just copy/paste the PICTURE. If I can figure out the rest of it I'll let you know.
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Oh, Blessed day, there you are prayersareanswered! I am sorry you are sick with a bad cold, but glad your Onc exercised wisdom in delaying. It was one year ago today that I was going through the starts then delays for my chemo. I did finally start on January 5th.
I have heard about cleaning for patients going through chemo. I know I have seen posts about this on other threads too. Let us know if you have any issues, we can certainly help with research in our area.
I didn't know you were going back to work before chemo...if I am being nosy, just ignore...are you planning on working and chemo? Sincere congrats on your husband's job, and good to know you do have childcare options.
You are in our thoughts and prayers!!
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Thank you all for your prayers, advice and poems! The Lord must have heard you, because the little family went back to the father's house after we had a birthday ditty for Skip. He had, what he called, a "Two Woman Cake"... I made the cake and Becky made the frosting. It was probably the ugliest cake he's had for his birthday (the cake stuck to the pan and came out in pieces), but it was good tasting. :-) So, yes, I did too much today. We bought a pellet stove yesterday, which will be installed the Monday after Christmas, so me being me, had to rearrange the living room b/c the baby grand piano was next to the fireplace. Normally Skip would help, but couldn't today. I rolled up the carpet and started sliding furniture and piano. Becky got mad at me for doing it and helped move the piano after I didn't like where I had placed it. So everything's in place now, for the time being. We have a 1950s vintage Lionel train set, so once the piano got situated, Skip was able to start assembling it. The grandsons know that they can play with it only with an adult.
So, yes, I get spun up and over-do it and then get cranky and tired. I'm going to print out that poem, Janet, and try to keep things in perspective. I so want to be more Franciscan and let go of much of the stuff we own, give it to those in need, but I'm waiting for my daughter to move out and take what she needs first. She seems to be kind of depressed lately and it might be that she wants so much to move out on her own but it's just not happening fast enough.
Prayersareanswered - so happy you stopped by! Take care of yourself with that cold. It's going around. My husband had it last week. I posted something about that cleaning for a cause site - someone at work sent me the link. It seems to be on the up and up.
Traci - your Nativity scene sounds really nice and the fireplace idea sounds very pretty! Can you post a picture? I'm going to try Janet's idea and go to the Kodak site. Your idea about this Friday's prayer night sounds good too. I know it will really help me to focus on what is important and help me get out of the weeds.
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Traci - yes I really like the idea of bringing one simple prayer each & a Christmas story on Friday. Will have to start thinking!! Your Christmas display DOES sound so cute! I have 3 nativities, but they are very simple - nothing unusual. My old parish used to have a parish nativity display after Christmas and many parishoners brought theirs to share. You should have seen all the amazingly different scenes from around the world - especially from Africa. My kids would go and just stare (when they were about eye level to the tables).
Theresa - post a pic of the train! And - oops forgot to say HB to Skip. Wish I had a cake here! And don't go around moving PIANOs for gosh sake. It takes a type A to recognize another one:)
Prayersareanswered - SO glad you checked in and happy you feel well enough to be back to work. But first things first - your main job is to keep your strength up! Hopefully, this will be the one cold of the season and that will be it!
Tori - thanks for the reminder of Our Lady/Guadelupe feast & the lovely prayers!!! Makes me feel snug on a cold rainy night.
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thank youuuu! you have not forgotten me ! i got back to work for two weeks but am going on short term disability during chemo treatments. So i am off work starting tomorrow. hope i will have more time to share with you.
I am happy that my chemo got delayed by one week so that I have more time to rest and prepare before. God's work in our lives is just amazing. He just know our needs.
Yes, I am looking for housework support for cancer patients in my area (Falls Church in Northern Virginia) if anyone hears of anything.
I haven t have the opportunity to catch up and read everything yet from our thread but will do so.
Nice to be back here. Always feels like home with so many loving sisters.
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Prayersareanswered: We couldn't forget you! Sometimes life takes us elsewhere, but we're happy you've signed back on. I worked while receiving chemo, but like you, I was able to take off probably 3 of the 5 days during chemo week. I was on one week, off one week, on one week.... for 4 treatments. Everyone's cocktail is different, so everyone reacts to chemo differently. I hope yours is good! :-) Did you go to the website for the housework support? If you don't have it, let me know and I'll send it to you. Is Dr. Denduluri your Onc?
Janet: Lovely Nativity. They look large. I'll take a pic of the train set. I think Becky wants to do some more decorating around it.
Well, thank you for being here for me, sisters. I needed some sanity breaks during the holiday madness to bring me back to reality. I remember, a few years back, while living in NJ and not having the insane commute, Skip and I were living alone and Christmas didn't fall on a weekend, so we didn't travel to VA to see family until a few days later. I remember how peaceful that Christmas was. It was just the two of us ... he did music for the Vigil Mass, and we came home to a peaceful Christmas Eve with our seafood dinner, then had a peaceful Christmas Day... no big dinner to fix, even though we had the traditional turkey, but not huge like we do for our family. I love my family and my grandsons, but I really appreciate the quiet times.
Noon reading (Sext) 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.0 -
Theresa - I guess St. Joseph is about 12 inches. I bought these a few years ago but never finished the set mostly because it would be so big - so I just use the Holy Family figures. I haven't pulled out the family nativity yet - that one looks a lot like yours w/a little stable. I'll take a picture of it too:)
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Good evening everyone
Sorry I missed the Friday prayer meeting but I had said a short one while typing and my thoughts were with you sisers. My life is busier than I imagined since the in-laws will be moving here after Christmas, they are now visiting. I hope to manage.
BJ ~ a very warm welcome to you. I read your post on my blackberry last night and it gave me a huge smile on my face. Feels like I know you already.
Theresa ~ hope Skip's back feels better quickly. Nice pic, thanks for sharing
Janet ~ nice pic, thanks for sharing
Tori ~ thanks for posting Our Lady of Quadelupe.
PRA ~ hope you rid of your cold quickly
Traci ~ Glad to know Ms. D is doing better
and I hope that you can pray for those mean spirited ones to change their ways. I had a nice long talk with my f-i-l this morning about prayers and meditation. He reminded me that we can only pray and petition for others. And if the mind remains quiet, it is meditating and no negative powers can assult you. Keep your rosary nearby and continue praying when you feel that way.I'm thinking about Sheila and Jeannine often. I sinerely hope that both of them are okay and know that we are all thinking about you ladies here. Please send us a line or two
I will be seeing my lymphedma physical therapist tomorrow at 5pm PST, please pray for me that I am assigned a good and knowledgeable therapist.
Good night all
Namaste !
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As I put together Dad's scrapbook (which takes a minute
I have pulled out some papers I have been saving, letters from mom, Grandma, old old pics. I saw something my mother had written me, and I'm sure I didn't have a full appreciation at the time, and you all may have heard of it before...The title is "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry." The lyrics are:
I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, To see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child, With a faith to suit you well; In a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell.
When you heard the wonder of the word I was there to cheer you on; You were raised to praise the living Lord, To whom you now belong.
When you find someone to share your time And you join your hearts as one, I'll be there to make your verses rhyme From dusk till rising sun.
In the middle ages of your life, Not too old, no longer young, I'll be there to guide you through the night, Complete what I've begun.
When the evening gently closes in And you shut your weary eyes, I'll be there as I have always been With just one more surprise.
I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, To see your life unfold.
I think my Mom would be/is pleased to know that cancer finally woke me up. I have much to learn, and grow spiritually, but I thank you all for being here for my journey, and supporting me.
Paula,
I was wondering how you are doing with you rash? Wishing you the best with your appointment. I will try and keep my mind quiet, and I have my Rosary at work, right next to my Angel that sits on my desk
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Love you all -- but not going back to review postings----so i have no idea whats going on----I feel that is bestat this point. Saying the rosaty with you all i mind. I know you worry about me , and I bless you all. It's hard to stay away and not read , but oddly enough it is what I believe at this point is what Imust do. Still praying for you all --Love sheila
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Love you all -- but not going back to review postings----so I have no idea whats going on----I feel that is best at this point. Saying the rosary with you all in mind. I know you worry about me , and I bless you all. It's hard to stay away and not read , but oddly enough it is what I believe at this point is what I must do. Still praying for you all --Love sheila
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Sheila,
Balance is important to our lives. I'm writing to you, but not sure if you will see it. I will toss it out there anyways. I pray you are alright, and that the Holiday Season will bring you fond memories as well as a time to make new ones. Love you Dearly.
Traci
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A little update since yesterday. I just got back from my primary care physician, he put me on antibiotics for five days; last night i was coughing like crazy !
Theresa, yes Dr Denduluri is my Onc. Was she also yours ? if the website you are talking about is cleaningforareason.org yes i have been there a million times but each time they say applications are closed for the day.
have a blessed day everyone !
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Prayersareanswered: Yes, Dr. D is my onc too. You will meet my niece, Laura, who is a nurse who works with the patients getting chemo.
I'll check the address to see if it's the same cleaning place.
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Paula: good luck with your in-laws and physical therapist. I'm sure all will be well.
Janet: Those figures look larger than that! They're so pretty.
Traci: Nice poem/song. I've never seen it before. I'm sure, too, that your Mom is proud as punch of you... who you are and your chosen occupation and your good heart.
Sheila: Do what you need to do to feel good ... we'll still be here praying for you and hoping you'll feel up to posting again.
Laura: I love the new picture/avatar of you... I'm guessing it's you! What a happy disposition!
As for me, I'm finding there aren't enough hours in the day anymore with our commute. When I was in NJ, I felt rested b/c I got 8 hours of sleep and had a 10 minute commute. Now I'm back to dragging again. The short days don't help either. Neither does the Holiday madness. I'm going to try my best to get to bed early and see how things go.
It's the feast day of St. Lucy ... our Miss Lucy got a special treat for dinner.
Lucy, bride of Christ, by your endurance you gained possession of your own soul. You despised the things of this world, and now you shine with the angels. By shedding your own blood you defeated the enemy.
Short Reading - Evening Prayer
Philippians 3:20-21
We are waiting for our saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.
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We just found out about this:
http://www.shrineofourladyofgoodhelp.com/index.html
Wisconsin Shrine (Our Lady of Good Help) approved as first and only U.S. Marian Apparition site, by Bishop Ricken on Dec 8, 2010, Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. How wonderful is that??!!! And Adele Brise went on to become a Secular Franciscan. I would love to go there one day!
Funny how good news and miracles don't make the news or papers. We have to rely on good people to pass on these news stories.
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Theresa - wow I have NEVER heard of that! And a year after Lourdes - that's amazing!
The figures look so big because I don't how to make the pictures smaller when I post them!!
Traci - the poem/song sounds like an OLD one with terms you don't hear anymore - i.e. borning. It would be interesting to know when it was written. A mother's love is unbroken no matter what.
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Greetings my Catholic Friends. Christmas season is very busy for me. I have a ton of new music to learn. You'd think I'd know everything by now, but now I have to transfer many things to organ and that takes a lot of work.
Prayers for all.
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Dear sisters,
My in-laws just left this afternoon after an hour long appointment with the health insurance agent. At least I will have them covered as they will move to here by the end of the year. I saw the lymphetic PT and got my evaluation yesterday, thanks for your prayers, the therapist is wonderful and very knowledgeable. I do have some lymphedema on my back (left side) and it is causing pain. I was also given the RX for the sleeve and glove etc...
Traci ~ Very nice lyrics
and thanks for checking on my rash, they are almost all gone but the axilla is flared up. It is wonder to talk to someone who does not dismiss what I'm saying. I will start PT tomorrow. I am going through the motions of getting worse (after radiation) before getting better!I had enjoyed my lengthy talk with my f-i-l (who is almost like my own father), and we talked about prayers are most effective when prayer for others. I have been encouraged to meditate and need to learn to maintain a calm and quiet soul so that my body will heal. And to let go of fears and let GOD take over. Easier said than done but I will start now.
So many things to be grateful for and I'm sure that I'm not being thankful enough. Most of all I want to say that you sisters have kept me on a good balance, have given me great encouragement and showed me that we care for one another here, especially on this thread.
I also loved the Christmas Day prayer but can someone remind me what time and what prayer are we saying that morning?
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Saw this quote today...
Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~Mary C. Crowley
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LOVE that quote Janet...thanks for sharing!
Tori
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LOL!!!
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Janet, that was funny LOL !
I got a quote too
"Spiritual work is separating from the noise and clamor of outer life in order to move towards something quieter. It is an effort to elevate one's self toward something that is already there but that is much finer than an ordinary and external way of life." - Peter Rhodes
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Paula,
Wonderful quote.
I was wondering how often each of us go to the quiet place? Is it through regular prayer? I have certain sights and sounds that I associate with the quieter times of prayer and seeking. When I come here, I go into a different mode too. I find life can be very distracting, and I would like to be closer to spirit in my waking life.
Life is so different now after cancer treatment, yet there are many around me who have not had cause for change or deep reflection. Not that one needs a serious illness, but for me this really woke me up. I find myself slipping into old habits or behaviors that I truly don't want anymore. Or it's become much more difficult to listen to complaining about silly things. Very draining, and I have to re-charge when I get home. The goal is to become non affected, and at Peace. I'm thinking regular prayer is the way...
and speaking of Prayer, I am hoping we can all come together on Friday, and if it helps to meet earlier, we should do that so as many of us can be here together to listen and honor the birth of Christ.
Have a wonderful day all. God Bless You and keep you safe.
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