2017 The Year of my body

Hello!
I write this blog in thanksgiving to God for my health. Bless all eyes reading this with good health too, please, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The temple, my body, was the locus of 2017.
In April of this year (2017) I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Thanks be to God, it was, as my oncology doctor put it, of "the garden variety,” a happy diagnosis.
After the lumpectomy, I had radiation for five days, two times a day in June.
Only checkups from here, praise God.
Ladies, please, please, please, get  your yearly mammogram. I almost skipped mine, but the Holy Spirit urged me to make an appointment in April. My cancer was caught early, Stage 1, thanks be to God. Beforehand knowledge is critical.

Antecedent to the cancer treatment, I had to have a biopsy on the the area where the abnormality was located on the mammogram.
I had to lay on my side when the biopsy was done.
The doctor dove  into my breast 7x trying to get a sample.
There is no anesthesia given, just numbness around the area.
Ouch.
He asked me how I was doing after about the 4th pinch. I told him I was fine and he joked, "We've only done one or two." I answered facetiously, "More like 4 times." He reprimanded me good-naturally, "You aren't supposed to be counting,” as he took 3 more samples.
When the pain became excruciating, I united my suffering with Christ's suffering when the crown of thorns was placed and forced into his skull. I sensed Christ next to me as I gritted my teeth; a white light surrounded me as the doctor continued gouging me.

The doctor finished and I was helped to my feet. The nurse assistants looked bedazzled, probing my facial expression (I thought), "Are you alright?" they asked.

I imagined my face white as Moses' when he spoke to God on the mountain. I knew I had spoken to God, no words needed.
In reality I bet I appeared disheveled and stunned.
"I'm good." I blushed.
The girls’ reaction to my facial expression was a confirmation: Jesus was with me, and that made me happy.

My surgical cancer doctor,  who performed the lumpectomy,  was inordinately adept.
During treatment, the most benevolent of nurses  and doctors tended to me.
I pray for them daily.

Genetic testing was done and blessed be God, I wasn’t prone to breast cancer, but the test did reveal I am predisposed to colon cancer.
That prompted me to have  my first colonoscopy.
Thanks be to God, no colon cancer.

Lastly: three univited fibroids were growing in my uterus. If you don’t know about fibroids, google it,   They are acutely annoying.
This prompted me to have a hysterectomy, where my doctor also found I had endometriosis.

This year was a blessing from God as I’m ending 2017 with hardiness.


"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Bible study without me, again

Hello and welcome,
I didn't make it to bible study today, so I'm going to do a bible study myself.
Matthew 5:38-48
This week's Gospel is especially difficult for me to put into practice.
As Fr Juan Carlos put it rather succinctly at 5p mass last night: you are to pray for those who hurt you, but not a prayer for them to go to Hell. A prayer for blessings and graces on them.
And I do pray for blessings and graces for those who hurt me, but I still want justice.  Lord, please help me with this failing of mine.
As I listened to Father's homily last night, I heard the Lord teaching me the same lesson he's been wanting me to learn for years.
I wasn't asking for God's grace to help me love my enemies. Once again, I think I can do better than God and just handle things myself.
Where can I begin to learn this lesson? That's the easy part. It's simple, and on-going.
I've got to keep releasing my will to God's; I must always return to God and ask for his grace.
Thank goodness God doesn't love like we love, and has such compassion and understanding for our behavior.
With his help, and only his help, am I able to do what's humanly impossible to do.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

A reading for the citizens of North Texas

Hello and welcome,
I know for those of us who aren't Trump supporters, this past week has been hard on us. And, I imagine, Trump supporters aren't happy with the division Trump's actions are causing, even if they believe what he is doing is right.
Take heart, everyone, because

If my Catholic faith has taught me anything, it is this: to rely on the Lord in ALL things.
Imagine how hard it was for Jesus' mother, Mary, to witness her son's crucifixion and to rely on the Lord during that most difficult of times, but with God's grace, she did witness it and saw Jesus risen from the dead too.
The things Trump is doing, whether you think they are good or bad, is calling on us as Christians to rely on God.
Our faith is being tested, but God is with us.
We need our Savior more than ever.

God is talking to us as a nation through Trumps actions. God is calling us to be peacemakers and lovers of all, and He will give us the grace to create positive, uplifting, change.
God brings good where evil thinks it triumphs.
God blesses you and keeps you & God blesses America. For this I pray, in Jesus precious name. Amen.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Jesus has come to stay

Hello and thanks for reading,
2016 was a strong spiritual year for me, and I want to make sure I write about it.
In February the HS gave me the gift of tongues.

I'm telling you this because I want to encourage you: if a sinner like me can receive the gift of tongues, anyone can! :) God wants to do great things in our lives - if we'd just let Him.

My faith was shaken a bit in 2016 because of some unsavory goings-on at my job, but when Advent came, a new attitude about my work situation came with it.

I allowed the HS to truly enter into my life, and on all levels. I fell in love with the idea of waiting for Jesus' birth, through Advent. I've always been a bit of a rebel and God used this to help me understand that Catholic's ways are not the ways of the world. I would hear Christmas music and think, "It's not Christmas yet." When I could control what I listened to, I made myself refrain from listening to Christmas music. (Not that listening to Christmas music before Christmas day is bad, but my thinking was that it wasn't appropriate until the actual day of Christmas - which marks the beginning of the Christmas season. Advent is the time before Christmas and is purposely made to make us wait.)

So I waited.

While I waited I availed myself of one of the Church's most powerful sacraments:  confession. *

I looked more closely at Mary. How blessed we are to have a mother who thinks of us before herself - she's told her cousin Elizabeth is going to bear a child and goes in haste to help her. Never mind telling anyone about the baby she's carrying! How great her faith in God is and what an example. The angel appears and then leaves her. She doesn't hear from the angel again. She perseveres through faith.

When Christmas did finally arrive, my waiting paid off. I cleaned my house extra well to welcome our King. I thought about how I wanted God to find my life in the last month of December 2016. *How would I account for my actions? Did I have gifts for the new born King? Had I used the talents He gave me wisely to spread love and peace? I found myself sorely lacking, but then I knew the HS would fill in the gaps for me - I can't even approach God without His grace - and I thanked God for the blessings in my life, promising to do better. I am continuing my thankfulness everyday, asking for the light that showed the wise men where Jesus was, to be my guiding light as well. Help me Lord, to be Your light to those around me. No more hiding my baptismal and confirmation lights - help me shine, Lord.

I blasted Christmas music in my car, at work, everywhere. I sang terribly along with it. My apologies to those who heard me. I gazed lovingly at the manger. Christ had been born in my heart and I want to keep Him there.

I'm sad the Christmas season is over, but Fr Jason Cargo at St Joe's CC made the transition so much smoother with a wonderful homily by Deacon Tim, specifically about the baby Jesus and the wise men, and a gorgeous scene of candles on the altar. Light! God is our Light and Salvation.

Thank you Tara for sending me this lovely picture so I can add it here.

Allow God to do wonderful things in your life; as Fr Dankasa often says, "Let God be God."
Let His light shine in you and through you.


"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa