May you be rewarded in eternity for the prayers and sacrifices offered for our family especially my mother during this time.
Her scan last Tuesday did not show as we were hoping for. The tumors are still present so they will move forward with the (as they phrase it), the "Atomic Bomb" of chemos (B.E.A.K). They described it to us as bringing her to a point of death and then back. We have such high regard and respect for her doctors, but those terms sure scare a family. We all were a little weary after last week. Cancer has been such a roller coaster of emotions. You always want God's will to be done, but trying to find your mindset and footing during the ups and downs can prove to be quite the challenge.
This round of chemo is what they have been preparing us for for many months. She will be hospitalized for 4-6 weeks and then will stay in Kansas City for another 4 weeks for monitoring. She might be able to go home around the beginning of next year (She currently is receiving treatments about four hours from her home). They will rescan in March. These are the current plans, but as we have found, plans can change in a day.
She asked me for the first time to ask people to pray for her. She is really afraid for this treatment. We are almost going on a year now since her diagnosis.
My second prayer request would be that Lourdes would take a bottle. I REALLY want to be with my mom next week during chemo and specifically stay the night with her during her treatments next week. If they are what they say they are, I do not want her alone. The catch is that children are not allowed in during this time so I cannot bring Lourdes. She refuses every bottle we've tried to give her, but in order for me to stay with my mom at night, Lourdes needs to take a bottle. I have enough milk stored up from her time in the NICU so that won't be a problem. She is getting up several times at night to nurse so please pray that God will be merciful on this small, but important detail. I wish so much to be with my mom especially during the nights (We live three hours from Kansas City so I can't go back and forth.)
Thank you so much. I know so many people who are suffering from cancer and other illnesses. My heart and mind are often without words when you see the vast suffering everywhere you look.
God Bless You.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Enthronement to the Sacred Heart
On Friday, October 9, 2015, we enthroned our home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I remember my parents doing this as a child and feeling such security knowing that Jesus was especially watching over our home. You can read more about the significance and importance HERE. I also loved this explanation HERE about what the enthronement actually means, how we live it out, how it sanctifies families and marriage. I love many aspects about this beautiful devotion namely we are inviting Jesus into our homes and proclaiming Him king of our household. As stated on the blog, "
The goal of it is to unite the tabernacle of the church and the
tabernacle of the home in order to make domestic churches of the homes."
Our Lord Jesus Christ made these twelve promises to those who honor His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, whom he called “the Beloved Disciple of the Sacred Heart” and the Heiress “of all Its treasures”, in the 1670’s. They show us how much he cherishes this devotion. Considering that the blood that redeemed us at Calvary came from His Sacred Heart and that so much love and light still exude from it, we can easily understand why! These promises were revealed in one of many private revelations that Jesus gave St. Margaret Mary. Our Lord promised the following:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will comfort them in their trials.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and, above all, in death.
5. I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings
6. Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls will become fervent.
8. Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.
9. I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise thee, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Keep in mind in the 12th Promise that our Lord asks us to receive Him in Holy Communion in a state of grace on the First Friday of each of nine consecutive months, a First Friday devotion.
If you have any serious sins on your soul, it’s important to have them absolved in the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) first. (If for some reason you miss a month, the following month becomes your first again, but considering the graces Jesus offers us here, it’s more than worth following this schedule!)
As with all of God’s graces, these promises are contingent on our obeying His Will for us through prayer, the sacraments, reading and studying about our faith, and listening to His Holy Spirit. This is not as difficult as it may sound, however. What it involves, after all, is trying our best to live a good life pleasing to God, in obedience to Him, and sharing His love with others!
Think also of those parables in the Gospels in which Jesus spoke approvingly of the good and faithful servants who served their master diligently and thus were rewarded when he returned (Matt 24:45-47 and 25:14-30 ).
The ninth promise, incidentally can help with the seventh and eighth. Just as looking at a crucifix can remind you of the immense depth of God’s love for us, so can looking at an image of our Lord and His Sacred Heart such as the one above further personalize that love for each of us, and for you in particular.
Seeing His Sacred Heart ablaze with love and light can be a source of great consolation after a hard day or during a trying time in this often loveless world! And remember, His love is not just for us sinners or for fallen humanity in the abstract, but for you as well!
These promises, like this devotion, remind us that God’s love for us is such that he doesn’t want to lose any of us to Satan and Perdition. The Good Shepherd will search after His lost sheep, but, we must want to be found.
As St. Augustine, the 5th Century bishop of Hippo, one of our greatest theologians and a Doctor of the Church once said about God “He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.”
 |
| (Damaris is hidden behind Lillie.) |
Our Lord Jesus Christ made these twelve promises to those who honor His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, whom he called “the Beloved Disciple of the Sacred Heart” and the Heiress “of all Its treasures”, in the 1670’s. They show us how much he cherishes this devotion. Considering that the blood that redeemed us at Calvary came from His Sacred Heart and that so much love and light still exude from it, we can easily understand why! These promises were revealed in one of many private revelations that Jesus gave St. Margaret Mary. Our Lord promised the following:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will comfort them in their trials.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and, above all, in death.
5. I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings
6. Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls will become fervent.
8. Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.
9. I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise thee, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Keep in mind in the 12th Promise that our Lord asks us to receive Him in Holy Communion in a state of grace on the First Friday of each of nine consecutive months, a First Friday devotion.
If you have any serious sins on your soul, it’s important to have them absolved in the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) first. (If for some reason you miss a month, the following month becomes your first again, but considering the graces Jesus offers us here, it’s more than worth following this schedule!)
As with all of God’s graces, these promises are contingent on our obeying His Will for us through prayer, the sacraments, reading and studying about our faith, and listening to His Holy Spirit. This is not as difficult as it may sound, however. What it involves, after all, is trying our best to live a good life pleasing to God, in obedience to Him, and sharing His love with others!
Think also of those parables in the Gospels in which Jesus spoke approvingly of the good and faithful servants who served their master diligently and thus were rewarded when he returned (Matt 24:45-47 and 25:14-30 ).
The ninth promise, incidentally can help with the seventh and eighth. Just as looking at a crucifix can remind you of the immense depth of God’s love for us, so can looking at an image of our Lord and His Sacred Heart such as the one above further personalize that love for each of us, and for you in particular.
Seeing His Sacred Heart ablaze with love and light can be a source of great consolation after a hard day or during a trying time in this often loveless world! And remember, His love is not just for us sinners or for fallen humanity in the abstract, but for you as well!
These promises, like this devotion, remind us that God’s love for us is such that he doesn’t want to lose any of us to Satan and Perdition. The Good Shepherd will search after His lost sheep, but, we must want to be found.
As St. Augustine, the 5th Century bishop of Hippo, one of our greatest theologians and a Doctor of the Church once said about God “He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.”
 |
| Fr. Courtney has a special devotion to the Sacred Heart. He had us pray a novena in preparation. He blessed the picture and encouraged us to come to his heart in times of trial and sorrow and seek his protection and comfort. |
Saturday, October 10, 2015
The Beauty in Suffering
She always apologizes for her hair. I see nothing but her beauty. I see her sacrifices for souls. I see her port in her right shoulder and her tri-line in the other shoulder. I see her C-section scar and other scars that only a handful know about. I truly think she couldn't be more beautiful than she is now. I love her hair. I love her heart more. I love her beautiful and suffering eyes.
Last weekend, several of my siblings came to be with her as she received her second round of chemo. She will have a PET scan Oct. 20th to show if the cancer is gone. If it is gone, they will do one more round of chemo. If it is not, they will finish chemo and begin radiation.
It is our privilege to sit beside her during this time. I wish I could accompany her to every blood draw, every scan, every consult, but right now God did not want that. She always tells us that our duties are at home and that makes her most happy. She is such a person of resolve. She sees God in EVERYONE. I mean EVERYONE. She listens to her doctors and accepts what they tell her to do-no questions. She knows God has a plan for her. She suffers so well.
She is my dearest of friends. I haved loved her my whole life. She asked me why I was taking pictures of her. I do want to remember this time with her, but more importantly I always take pictures of beautiful things I see. I SEE nothing but beauty.
Before getting sick, she worked out at CrossFit most days. She continued her workouts even after being diagnosed. She is so strong. She set a goal to do 100 squats everyday no matter what. She has kept them up even during chemo. We went for a walk down the hall and did some stretches together. She said it felt so good after laying in a bed for five days. Isn't she amazing!
I told her I took a Pure Barre class so she wanted to try some of those moves and stretches.
There is never a baby she doesn't want to hold or love. I inherited my love of babies from her.
She requested that evening to watch the new Cinderella movie. It was so fun. We got snacks and turned down the lights. She loved it.
Her last day was very difficult with nausea and headaches. The nurses really worked with her to help make her comfortable. Thank you, my mother, for suffering so well. Thank you for loving us enough to offer your life for ours and those we love. Thank you for blazing the trail. She gave us many gifts and showed us much love, but right now she is doing her greatest work confined to a bed in a city that is not her home. She is suffering so that her children and others may get to heaven.
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, but to lay down his life for his friends."
Last weekend, several of my siblings came to be with her as she received her second round of chemo. She will have a PET scan Oct. 20th to show if the cancer is gone. If it is gone, they will do one more round of chemo. If it is not, they will finish chemo and begin radiation.
It is our privilege to sit beside her during this time. I wish I could accompany her to every blood draw, every scan, every consult, but right now God did not want that. She always tells us that our duties are at home and that makes her most happy. She is such a person of resolve. She sees God in EVERYONE. I mean EVERYONE. She listens to her doctors and accepts what they tell her to do-no questions. She knows God has a plan for her. She suffers so well.
She is my dearest of friends. I haved loved her my whole life. She asked me why I was taking pictures of her. I do want to remember this time with her, but more importantly I always take pictures of beautiful things I see. I SEE nothing but beauty.
 |
| Chemo meds |
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, but to lay down his life for his friends."
