I'm going to paradise! What's wrong with that!?!"

I have a friend in our homeschool group has been fighting against stage 4 gastric cancer.  She found out at the end of March and we have been praying for a miracle.  It does not look like she will have much more time on the search as her health is deteriorating.  I shared the following story on FaceBook because Linda really had a faith that pushes us all to trust our Lord even in death.  I ask that you pray for my friend, her family and for Linda's family that still miss her terribly.  

"I'm going to paradise! What's wrong with that!?!, 

my friend would tell me as she was dying of pancreatic cancer. It has been six years (as of Nov 5) and the pain in losing a friend has not gone away. Neither has the joy that she demanded we have for her.

You see this friend was blessed to feel the Father's Love so strongly that she lost all fear of death. She suffered greatly but kept herself focused on the goal of heaven. It permeated everything, including her request that we wear bright colors to the funeral. She picked her own outfit for burial and then worried it wasn't good enough. She didn't want anyone to fear death because of how she looked.

"God has been pulling me to Him my whole life." 

She told J and I after telling us that she couldn't receive any more treatment and her time on earth was very short.

"I have been tethered to Him since my Baptism. The rope was aways long enough that I could get away if I wanted to and sometimes I tried. I sinned in my life but that doesn't stop God from loving me. The sins looked like huge piles blocking me from Him. That is the wrong way to see it. If I let Him, God pulls me right through it, and with confession the sins are gone. I am now so close to the end, He has pulled me so close to Him that all I can feel is the FATHER's love. It overwhelms every part of me. I can't hold back any more. I just want to run into his arms!" 

As she shared this story I could feel a taste of the love and in my mind I said,

"I want to be loved that way." 

Even though I didn't speak outloud she responded,

"He does love you that much it just isn't your time for Heaven, yet!" 

May we all have that kind of peace when our time comes.  May God give my other friend that same peace and knowledge of where she is heading.
Linda, please pray for us from your heavenly home.

May All the Souls of Faithful Departed Rest in Peace

 5 years ago our friend Linda T died of pancreatic cancer.  She found out she had cancer on August 20th and died on November 5th.  In that time we all grew to understand God's love very deeply.  We still thank Linda for that.  This year her husband Larry wanted us to join him for the All Souls Day Mass at the gravesite.  It was touching to be a part of this special time.

We all miss you Linda.  Thanks for bringing us all together again.  We look forward to knowing you in paradise

The Heat is On

So Sugar's dear friend Kat graduated from highschool today.  We were busy at swim events and work events, but we did show up at the party. I admit we were late but that meant we had plenty of time to just sit and chat with the family, which is our favorite part anyway.  I wish I had taken some picture of Sugar and Kat but it was too hot to really think about it.  Mr. T had it set up well.  The party was outside, he had several fans going and everyone was under the tents but it is Houston in June.  I think it was only 1000 degrees this June day.  The twins got to experience a fan for the first time that, at least one they could play with.  We all had a blast watching them run in and out of the breeze.  They were cute enough to distract us from the heat.

 

 

Congrats to Kat, we love you and are very proud of you.  I know your mom is smiling on you from Heaven Kat.  Linda would be so proud!

Come Holy Spirit

Sugar and I were both honored to be asked to be sponsors for two friends at a local parish this year.  We were both so excited.  We have tried to go to meeting and prepare with our girls while always praying for them.  I can't believe how fast the day came.   

I got to be Kat's Sponsor.  I am so proud of this young woman.  I know her mom is so proud of her and is watching her from a special place in Heaven.  (Love you Linda).

Sugar got to sponsor her friend Faith.  They are both very faithful young woman.  I think that their mere friendship will help both of them find heaven!

Then it was time for the pictures!

After some cake with Faith and her family we took Faith and Hope with us to Denny's for some late night fun!  We all had a blast.

Congrats to both Faith and Kat, along with all their friends.  This was a wonderful group of young people all becoming adults in our faith.  I was very proud to be a part of it.  I wish these young ladies all the luck in the world and be confidant of our continued prayers and support.  Love ya!

A Peek Into Their Pilgrimage

This is the Texas group that would include my family plus Kat and her dad and Mr. D and his son Greg all with Fr. Tom Keller.  They are standing on The Rialto Bridge in Venice over looking the Grand Canal.  

 Their view!  Not bad.

 This next picture is full of my most favorite people in the world.

I miss them all so much.  I am tearing up as I type this.  They look so beautiful and so happy.  I miss them all.  From what I heard they all enjoyed Venice but not enough time to see everything  in Padua.

Tomb of St. Mark

J's business life for the past twelve years has centered around C-Stores or Convince Stores.  He knows this in the US market, especially in the South, inside and out.   So when he saw this C-Store  in between Venice and Le Verna he had to grab a shot.  This Espresso bar caught his attention.

This is the site where St. Francis received the stigmata in LaVerna Sanctuary and Pilgrimage Site in Tuscany.

 This is the spot where St. Francis died.

 This is outside the church with the hills in the back ground.  So beautiful!!!!!  They had Internet at this point and were able to share a few photos.  No such luck after that so no more pictures.  That will have to wait until they return home.  I hear that they all loved Assisi.  My hubby says that we will get an apartment there one day and spend some time there.  After they arrived in Rome he said that he will see it all now and never wants to go back.  He has not loved Rome.  It is a dirty big city according to him.  I can't wait to hear what the teens have to say.

The canonization was super crowded and J hates crowds.  He says that "You would think after two thousand years the Vatican would be better at crowd control."  The ceremony was nice but he thought we probably would get more out of it watching it on EWTN.  Again I can't wait to hear the kids thoughts in contrast to J.  So the short of it is that I miss them all so much.  I will have more to share but not until they arrive all the way at home.  I ask you to continue to pray for their safety and their travels.  We can ask all the Saints of Heaven especially the 7 that were added to the churches official roles last Sunday to pray for us.  I humbly ask St. Kateri to guide these special Americans home and to continue to show God's love to each of them.  St. Kateri, Pray for us! 

Year of Faith Pilgrimage is HERE!

 The Year of Faith is finally here.  It officially begins October 11th.  This is a year in which the church is trying to focus on Faith.  I do hope that all Catholics learn as much as they can about this year of faith and work toward their own indulgence.  Please click this sentence to take you to a page all about this opportunity.   We are so happy that it is officially here, but for more personal reasons.

My Teens have worked and worked to earn all their funds for their big trip.  Remember way way back when our dear friend Miss Linda T passes away?  (almost 3 years ago)  The kids were supposed to go on a World Youth Day t.rip but that fell apart, more information about all that in this older post.  Everything has fallen into place, all the monies needed have been earned, and the kids are getting ready for this huge trip.

So this Friday J is taking Goobers, Bear and Sugar to St. Louis.  Pooker is also going.  WE are so thrilled that she was able to work it in also.  They will meet up with family and Fr. Tom.  Later in the weekend, Mr. D and his son G along with Mr. Larry (and Linda T)'s daughter Kat will join them and several others.  They will fly out Monday to Venice, Italy.  Fr. Tom and his good friend, Monsignor Breier have organized a wonderful adventure on what has become their "Year of Faith" Pilgrimage.  Click here to see all the wonder adventures that are ahead of the kiddos and their dads.

Everyone is looking forward to different things. I am so happy that they get to attend the Canonization Mass of Kateri Tekakwitha.  Sugar has always been close to this saint so I am  thrilled for her.

I have always had a devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, there is a copy of this in my home parish - growing up.  The children will get to visit the shine where they house the original.  I am so jealous of this one.  I just pray that Linda's desires are met,  she wanted the teens to go on such a life affirming pilgrimage that their faith would be secure for their life time. It would seam that this pilgrimage holds that opportunity.

I ask that you remember these pilgrims in prayer over the next three weeks.  Please pray for their safety and health.  I do worry about Sugar's allergies and being in a foreign country with a different language and different food preparation regulations.   We also ask you to share your prayers with us.  The kids will be printing off a list of prayers sent to this email address up until Thursday.  They will not have the names of who sent them just the prayers.  They will carry that list with them and offer prayers for your intentions.  Just email us by Thursday evening, deadline is midnight October 11th.   Send prayers to prayers2take@gmail.com.  Feel free to share this with anyone you know needing some friends to offer prayers for them.  

"Year of Faith" Pilgrimage

You might remember from last year that my teens had to back out of World Youth Day.  The fundraising never came together and we were not able to cover the cost for four teens and mom.  At the time I was very sad, I felt like I had let down my friend Linda.  If you recall one of her dying request was to raise as much money as she could to send as many teens as possible on a pilgrimage.  She knew that a life enriching experience like a pilgrimage could secure a young one's faith.  Linda asked that instead of flowers that people considering giving money to send teens to WYD.  So backing out meant that I was letting Linda down and those that gave money at her funeral. 

After breaking the news to the kids, J and I called our good friend Fr. Tom.  He might be able to help us figure a better trip out.  He had been to Rome many time and loves history almost as much as I do.  I also realized that I wasn't the one that should take these kids but it should be the dads.  Linda was gone and she would want Kat to grow closer to her daddy not to me.  That felt right and Fr. Tom started to work out details with his friend Fr. B.  I admit that I was a little disappointed when they decided to use a travel company instead of just taking the teens and a few dads.  After their research they realized that for the little higher cost of going with a company the opportunities would open up.  Fr. B said that they didn't want to spend the entire time in Italy working out cab rides and going with a group would let them see more in the long run.

Then Fr. Tom was asked by another group of people to lead a group throughout the Franciscan Sites of Italy.  Our two priests realized that they could combine both trips into one great experience for both the teens and those with the love of St. Francis.  They spent months working out details with a travel company.  They really wanted to perfect trip for both groups.  The had to bargain a few times and rework some of the dates but in the end they had this nice trip all set and it was officially announced.

I admit that I was a little worried that there was no way we could make this happen.  It was still going to cost so much.  Then God surprised us with two more babies on the way.  I remember telling Father Tom about being pregnant and he was very happy for us.  Then when we announced it was twins he wanted to make sure it would not interfere with our plans to go to Rome.  Honestly I was very worried but assured him that if it was meant to be it would work out. 

Weeks went by and we knew that we needed to start raising money.  I had no idea where to start.  I was five months pregnant with two babies and scared that being pregnant would in the end keep the kids from going on another trip.  This trip was holding the promise to be perfect for the teens.(click here to see details of the pilgrimage)  I was feeling very down and out running errands when Fr. Tom text me.  He wanted to know if I had seen the latest from the Vatican.  I had no idea what he was referring to.  As it turned out our trip that was already planned with reservations made by the travel company were all set and the Vatican had picked the very day our group was to be in Rome to hold a canonization.  This would make the trip that much more exciting.  At first I was even more sad until Fr. Told me that one of the blessed to become canonized was Kateri Tekakwitha.  When I heard that I just cried and cried.  I knew the trip would work out from that point on. 

You see many years ago with my Sugar was just 3 almost 4 she was playing in her bed.  I heard her and went in her room to let her know she could get up and that nap time was over.  She told me that she didn't want to because she was playing with her Indian friend, Kateri Te-Ke-Wa-Tha.  I told her to have fun and went to the other room for a five minute break to read the local Catholic news paper.  I fell over when I open it to an article all about an Indian girl named Kateri Tekakwitha.  This woman was to be beatified that very weekend.  Our family has had a love of Kateri ever since that time.  Sugar picked her as her saint at Confirmation as well.  So when I heard she was to be canonized I knew that Kateri would make sure Sugar was there.  Why this saint picked my Sugar I will never know but their bond is beautiful and this saint always takes care of Sugar. 

The next week was a rough one baby wise.  I was down in the dumps and feeling very tired when two girlfriends picked me up for breakfast.  It was such a nice surprise and they both wanted to hear all about the trip.  When I finished telling them about the Kateri aspect of the story they both admitted that they wanted to send their teens as well.  After thinking about it a few minutes I realized that there really wasn't a reason why they couldn't join in.  I am so thankful they did because they were bringing a new energy with them.

We met the next weekend to discuss fundraising.  One idea that kept coming up was to sell Easter Lilies door to door in the two weeks before Easter.  I thought this was insane.  I tried to change the flower a dozen times, thinking that if we ended up with left overs we could work on selling them for Mother's day.  I was assured that it had to be lilies and I had to let it go.  I was nervous about investing tons of money into Easter Lilies when my family did not ever have them as a traditional Easter decoration.  I had to let go and trust my friends.  Plans were set, flowers ordered and signs needed to me made.  While trying to decide what to put on a poster to advertise our fundraiser, I was hit like a ton of bricks for a second time.  Kateri was at it again.  If you know anything about Kateri, you might know that her nick name is "LILY OF THE MOHAWKS".  Yep she is referred to as a Lily, this fundraiser was her doing.  I just needed to do the leg work and let Kateri do the rest.  She wants Sugar there, she really is our family friend, I hope she knows how much we love her.  I do hope that when I die and get to Heaven that she will tell me how and why she picked Sugar to spoil so much. 

So to update after weekend one of fundraising.  Each teen sold 50 lily plants by going door to door.  I know next weekend will go just as well when we get our second batch of 50 lilies each.  This will make a huge dent into what each kiddos owes the travel company.  I used to not think it would happen but the deposits of each kiddo was turned in and it is official.  I know in my heart that this October I will be sending off J, Goobers, Bear and Sugar with Mr. T and Kat and 4 more friends.  They will meet Fr. Tom and Fr. B and head to Venice and then see some St. Francis sites, the group will end in Rome and see some very hold people recognized as Saints by our Holy Catholic Church.  One of those people is Kateri and she has a special love for Sugar.  Maybe Linda and Kateri are working together to make this all happen.  These kids and their dads are in for a wonderful treat.

While we work our way through 200 more Easter Lilies this weekend, you will forgive me if I greet you with, "Wanna buy an Easter Lily?"  Thank you to everyone that has.  My kiddos are that much closer to their pilgrimage.