Going under...

So yes, I am having surgery tomorrow at 7:30AM and yes, it may entail/result in more than I had initially thought/planned.  For those of you who were asking, the procedure is formally known as a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, will involve three 1 in. incisions, and take 2-3 hours.  Dr. will be removing a large cyst, (possibly an ovary) and also cleaning out any endometrial cells and scar tissue.  I am in the very good hands of a wonderful Catholic doctor and am very thankful to know I can trust her to handle my reproductive organs with the utmost respect and care - what a relief!  Hearing that there is the possibility of having an ovary removed was a bit of a shock, but my trust is in the Lord - if He has ordered that for me, I accept it without hesitation.  Going under has also been a very weird factor to contemplate - knowing that I will be existing but not able to be aware - very strange.  And there is the 1 in a million chances that one does not wake up, so just in case I've been attempting to prepare with more prayer and contrition.  Being en route to heaven would be lovely but I feel very unworthy looking back on my short life thus far, as I haven't begun to do near enough to deserve heaven and certainly haven't rounded up enough souls to join me.  Looking ahead to tomorrow's readings, our Lord calls us to "Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come."  He desires us to be prudent and faithful servants, prepared at every moment for His appearance.  We are to be content with who we are and at peace with our life and work, but never complacent, thinking that small efforts and obligatory fulfillments are "good enough."  Banish the checklist mentality.  If His love for us is without limit, why do we limit ourselves to Him?  Continual perseverance and progress in the spiritual life is a daily essential and He who yearns for us and calls us to Himself will bless our efforts by enveloping us ever closer within the folds of His heart. 

  And so, here's to a surgery that conforms with His plan for my body and life, and to a renewed intention to continue making progress in being His prudent servant.

Many thanks to all of you who have cheered me on with love, hugs, prayers, smiles, and your beautiful souls.

"Good is the Lord to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him."
~ Lam. 3:25     

Recap.

A few of my favorite things from this past week:

- Fresh seasonal fruit every morning.

- 2 dinners invites from friends:
a spontaneous birthday dinner for Andrew (thanks RT!) &
a curry dinner made be a lovely British girl (thanks Lorna!)
- Lots of much needed laughter.

- A successful first week of teaching. Glad to be back with the kids.
- Time to read before bed every night.
- Promises of prayers, phone calls, and hugs from friends.

- A new library card and stack of free movies.

- Crazy lightening/thunder storms.

- Board games w/hubby.

- A tidy house...mostly.

- Confession/anointing of the sick = ready for surgery! ;)

- Breyers natural ice cream on sale for $2.50. A scoop of mint chip, yes please!

- Goodwill books finds including 2 stacks of children/young adult books. I have such fond memories of reading extensively as a child (thanks, Dad!) and I hope to be able to provide that opportunity for my children in addition to having a supplemental library for homeschooling.

- An engagement: Congrats Amy and Harrison!! :D

- From Sunday's Mass opening prayer: "Give Your people the joy of hearing Your

word in every sound and of longing for Your presence more than for life itself. May

the attractions of a changing world serve only to bring us the peace of your kingdom which this world does not give."
- Mercy and hope.

Happy 35th Birthday, Andrew!

Tuesday "Daybook"

The Simple Woman's Daybook is a lovely brief outline for blogging women/mothers to utilize for the purpose of composing their thoughts, keeping gratitude in their hearts, planning their week, etc.  It is traditionally published once a week on Tuesdays. I may not get to it every Tuesday, but I felt that it might be a nice, simple way to keep my readers semi-updated on what is going on in our life, in addition to reminding myself to focus on the simplistic beauty of the everyday moments.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... Very hot and sunny. Crickets making a buzz. 

I am hearing... John Michael Poirier's CD, Be With Us Today

I am pondering... "I know you are afraid of where this road is leading.

I want to draw your heart deep into the desert,

where I will speak a word to restore your soul

and a promise of the coming day when I will dry your tears away."

Lord, I embrace the desert.

I am creating... I need to create my lesson plans for tomorrow's music classes;

boys, grades 5-12.

I am thankful for... The comforting and encouraging words of loving friends.

Especially thankful for a dear, thoughtful friend who hosted us for dinner, cake,

and a much needed evening of laughter last night for Andrew's birthday

when she heard I wasn't feeling well.

From the kitchen... A stack of dirty dishes, but at least the trash is out!

I am going... to have some cysts removed via a laparoscopy; asking for prayers.

I am reading... flipping through The Endometriosis Natural Treatment Program.
And In Their Own Words: Women Healed by Dr. Hilgers
of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction. 

I am hoping... that with this procedure, I can finally get some answers on what has been the cause of all this on and off pain over the last couple years... 

Around the house... Messy. Music everywhere.

Juggling work and medical issues this week has been tough.

One of my favorite things... Seeing little Declan on Skype!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Make it through tomorrow's teaching. Pick up the house. Make dinner at least one night. Watch a few movies with hubby (including some Jane Austen!)

Here is picture thought I am sharing... Morning mist around our house at sunrise...so lovely.

All generations will call her blessed.

"A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head." Rev. 12:1

The Feast of the Assumption, commemorated on August 15, is the oldest Marian feast in the history of the Church, and honors the fact that the Blessed Virgin was assumed body and soul into heaven after her dormition (sleep/death).  God would not suffer the incarnate body of she who bore Christ to be subjected to the physical deterioration that our physical bodies, tainted with sin, will undergo.  Mary's unique passing into eternity is a beautiful reminder of the fact that at the end of time, our souls will be reunited with our bodies and again reminds us that our Lady desires always to point us toward heaven, our final goal.  

"Mary is indeed the first fruit of the new humanity, the creature in whom the mystery of Christ - his Incarnation, death, Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven - has already fully taken effect, redeeming her from death and conveying her, body and soul, to the Kingdom of immortal life. For this reason, as the Second Vatican Council recalls, the Virgin Mary is a sign of certain hope and comfort to us (cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 68). Today’s feast impels us to lift our gaze to Heaven; not to a heaven consisting of abstract ideas or even an imaginary heaven created by art, but the Heaven of true reality which is God himself. God is Heaven. He is our destination, the destination and the eternal dwelling place from which we come and for which we are striving" (Benedict XVI, Homily from 15 August, 2008).

Prayer:  Almighty, ever-living God, You raised to eternal glory the body and soul of the immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Son. Grant that our minds may always be directed heavenward and that we may deserve to share in her glory. Amen.

This light is entrusted to you...

Our newest godchild, Declan Zachariah, was baptized on July 24, 2010.

I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you new birth
by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into His holy people.

As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you always live as a member
of His body, sharing everlasting life.

May He soon touch your ears to receive His word, and your mouth to proclaim
His faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.

Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly.

Declan Zachariah, you have put on Christ, in Him you have been baptized, Alleluia. Amen!

During our visit to the W. coast we were so blessed to be able to witness the baptism of our newest nephew and godchild; thanks be to God for the perfect timing!!  Amanda was an amazing trooper and was determined to be there even though she had just been released from the hospital and was sans pain meds.  She was just so joyful that her little baby was able to be baptized...beautiful and inspiring to see!  We were so happy that Andrew's sister Lisa, and her precious children could be there as well; it was a special moment for us all.  Little Declan, you are always in our loving prayers and we hope to help you always keep your light burning brightly for Christ!

(Photo Credits: Andrew's brother, Paul)

Peace in the kitchen

After a busy and scrambled past few days, I took to the kitchen for some culinary therapy this afternoon. Bread was needed anyways, and why not whip up some cookies for a special sweet treat this week? :) A few months ago I received my favorite cookie cookbook in the mail courtesy of Amazon. The pages of this book hold many pleasant memories of cookie baking/decorating as a young girl with my mom and sisters, and some simply delicious recipes! I highly recommend it, as it presents the good old fashioned recipes along with unique cookie recipes for every holiday and season of life. Today I chose to keep it quick and easy with the snicker doodle recipe and also cranked out a batch of my staple honey whole wheat bread. And nothing goes better with the aroma of baked goods than some poetry...

KITCHEN MAGIC

by Violet Rouke Broder

When gray days sometimes leave you

At a loss for what to do,

Fill your house with warmth and fragrance...

Bake a pie, a cake, or two.

Make some heart-shaped sugar cookies

Or a creamy pudding, fine;

A batch of fudge or brownies

Helps to pass the gloomy time.

A tin of golden muffins

Or some loaves of fresh-baked bread,

I am sure will be more pleasing

Then some "store-bought" bread, instead.

What a thoughtful, cheery greeting

For your loved ones...at the door

When they sniff your homemade goodies,

Wafting welcome evermore.

**Yes, I did give a new look to my blog and did create the header all on my own (simple as it is) = I impressed myself a little!  I was delighted to come across that graphic, as I wanted something whimsical and colorful to portray joy, movement, and the ever-changing seasons in life.

Following a brief hiatus...

And I thought we were going to have a relatively slow summer?!? Its many events have been enjoyable however...

June 17-19 We move into our new house.
June 17-21 Laura, Gabe, and boys visit and help with some unpacking.
July 1-5 Andrew to Salt Lake City for the National Association of Teachers of Singing bi-annual conference.
July 4-8 Melissa drove up to Gainesville to spend time with Laura's little family.
July 5-12 Andrew to Washougal, WA to await my arrival at my family's.
July 12-28 Melissa flew out to the W coast and much fun was had with her family, relatives, and Andrew's family.
August 3-5 We drove up to visit Laura's clan for a few days - they've just moved into a lovely house with lots of room for little feet to run about.
August 4 Andrew is approved to teach an Acting-For-Singers course at Ave Maria University. (In addition to his 7+ voice students! Will we ever see each other? :)
August 6 Melissa confirmed her return to teach music at Ave's grammar and prep. school which begins Monday of next week!!

In between and among these summer adventures, we've encountered the usual joys, sorrows, stress and frustrations of earthly life...but have been attempting to approach each one with prayer and trust - the rewards are abundant.

We plan to make the most of the few days we have left before everything shifts into high gear upon Andrew's return to school August 24. Our new home is slowly but surely getting unpacked and settled into. I hope to get EVERYTHING finished by the end of this month. Catherine Stone comes to FL to visit August 31-Sept. 11 and both the Steele's and Dilanji's are very VERY excited to see her.

I am very determined to ease into the fall with a calm frame of mind and spirit and organized home life, leaving plenty of time for relaxation, prayer, rest, and personal care. We hope to catch a few more of these before our evenings are enveloped with studies, class prep., music planning, etc.


Hope all my readers are having a beautiful and blessed summer!
Especially my dear brother, CHRISTOPHER STONE.

We LOVED spending time with you and are very proud of the man you are becoming. Please come visit anytime - we can not offer you mountainous hikes, but jet skiing, kayaking, swamp biking, sailing, and alligator hunting awaits you! We love you.
(Are you blushing from the shout-out yet?)