Ash Wednesday - Lent begins (2 new posts)

So as Ash Wednesday falls upon us, my thoughts turn toward fasting, prayer and almsgiving. What to give up (fasting) is always a major decision for me. Last year I gave up bread ... and proceeded to try to convince anyone in earshot that it is not Irish Soda BREAD but Irish Soda CAKE - I should know, I am Irish!

My DH teases me about what I choose to give up b/c it always has an exception. HEY THIS IS MY FAST NOT YOURS!!!

This year I decided to give up meat again - I did this one a few years back and it is not easy. However, before I made this decision I was at Costco and bought a 6 can pack of canned chicken - to put on my salads. So this year was to be all meat EXCEPT those particular 6 cans of chicken... b/c since I spent $ on those cans I could not afford to buy fish too!!! OK - reality set in for me and what I can afford this morning. Say, for instance, that I opened a can of chicken for my salad and decided that I did not like this particular kind... what would I do? I would go to the store and buy some fish and leave the other 5 cans for Jim to eat. That being the case - I am going all out this year. NO exceptions!! All meat gone for 6 weeks! The Church does give us Sundays off though, so we will call those Steak Sundays! J/k - I tend not to utilize the Sunday off rule.

Also - brace yourselves - diet coke is on my fast list for Lent too. Those who know me well know that this will be a challenge. I am hoping to give it up for good - and not replace it with coffee this time either. I have been slowly weaning myself off of it for the past 2 weeks so as to not undergo severe caffeinne headaches. I have switched to diet root beer. Don't laugh - it is a step in the right direction. I am hoping to replace the diet root beer with water shortly.

Prayer - I have switched my CD collection in the car back over to scripture / Catholic lecture type stuff for the next 6 weeks. I intend to add one extra Mass in each week. I am still working out the details of that.

Almsgiving - Haven't gotten there yet. Will keep you posted.

Happy Lent!

21 Days!!! So sorry!

It has been so long since I last posted - I have been very busy!

Update on Sue: Jim and I went on Monday to see her at the Rehab place ans she is doing great! She is talking - quietly and slowly - but normally. She laughed a lot while we were there, which was great too. Her physical therapist is working her hard and so her shoulder is in pain (Jim and I talked after we left about how great it is that she is feeling pain in the shoulder that was paralized 2 weeks ago!) She has a long road ahead but they expect her to be in rehab for 4 - 6 weeks and that she would make good progress there. Then she will go home and continue therapy and the progess will slow down. Mind you - her house is not handicapped accessible or wheel chair capable in the hallways or up the narrow stairway to her bedroom so lot of adjustments will need to be made... keep them in your prayers.

Update on the Dumaines (Mellos Retreat Center): you can read about them here http://mellosretreatcenterhelp.org/
Terrie says that they are all set right now with the immediate needs and are looking forward to collecting what they need for the new house.

What has happened in the last 21 days other than those 2 things...

I ran a retreat for a parish who Jim led a retreat for last year ... same kids ... it was nerve wracking preparing b/c these kids LOVED Jim - of course. But - I am happy to report that it went wonderfully. Highlight: There was a girl there (10th grade) who had missed first reconciliation because she had a dance thing that day and had successfully avoided reconciliation services ever since. Well, there was reconciliation offerred at the retreat and she ended up going! She thanked me after. That rocked!

I attended a lecture at the MS here in town on "talking to your kids about sex". I went because I wanted to hear what the parents were being taught. THe woman who presented was great. She really spoke well on this delicate subject matter and gave the parents lots to think about. She told them that if their religion/faith tells them that sex should be reserved until marriage, then they should feel good about bringing their kids up in that faith - but know the reason why and if they don't know the reason why then ask someone at the church (priest/minister) to explain it to you - and don't be embarrassed to ask. Cool, eh?

I turned 39 - yes really 39. I thought it was a no big deal birthday - not like my sister who turned 40! in August ... or my husband who turned 40! in December. It is 39 - still in my 30's. My sister, however, had a different idea. I guess she was so scarred from her 40th (see earlier post in August if you have forgotten) that she went all out for my 39th. Sash that said "Look who's 40" which she added a note befor the 40 that said "almost"... (ALMOST! come on. "Almost" will be on Feb 9, 2008) and a flashing lips pin that said "Kiss me it's my birthday" and a pink maribou crown that said "birthday Girl" ... the rest of the family wore headbands with bouncy hand diddlybops on top and offerred high fives all around. Well, I can hardly wait for my 40th ... a nice quiet dinner at home perhaps...

Mardi Gras Party - great food, great people, great conversation, great decorations, ok jello shots (sorry, they were just ok ... note: never use sugar free jello for jello shots - or at least WARN people!)

That pretty much makes up for lost time.
THose are my updates

Another update

Sue had surgery yesterday to relieve some of the pressure in her brain. The surgery was a success! The doctors actually said it was perfect. Not only did they release the pressure on her brain from the bleeding, they also were able to clear the clots. They put her in an induced coma with respirator for 24 hours, and have now decided to keep her on the respirator for an additional 24 – 48 hours. But if all goes well she may be able to make a full recovery... it will be a long road to recovery, but possible.

Amazing really.

She is not out of the woods yet - so keep the prayers coming.

Thanks.