a gypsy caravan

update on kim

I have been meaning to update you on Kim's condition.  She is still hospitalized and has a long road ahead. She has a cyst that is enveloping the pancreas which has caused permanent damage to the organ.  I am praying that damage will be miraculously healed.  She has not eaten since entering the hospital ten days ago as the bowel needs total rest when dealing with this type of infection.  She is receiving nurtrients and fluids through IV and will be attempting liquids and soft foods in the upcoming days.  She is still in quite a bit of pain as pancreatic pain is known to be some of the worst. All that being said, Kim is doing much better today than she was a couple of days ago. I know she appreciates your prayers so much. 

Thanks to those of you who have commented and written with your love, support and prayers.  xoxoxo Rebecca

prayers, candles and soup

I can count my close friends on one hand, the people I can rely on, who pray for me and who I can pick up with even after not speaking during a busy time.  All of them live within an hour of me except for my dear friend Kim. Kim lives across the sea.  We have been friends for several years now, meeting online and later in person. We email daily and speak on the phone often.  She knows my ins and outs.  I trust her and love her dearly. 

Kim is very sick right now, in the hospital with a very bad infection of the pancreas.  She has been moved from the ICU to a regular room but is not out of the woods.  And she is still in a lot of pain.  I've been offering prayers for her throughout these days.  I've lit about a dozen candles in my home so everywhere I am reminded to pray. 

I feel sort of helpless because I can't do anything more tangible due to our distance apart.  My motherly instincts tell me to make soup and bread and deliver it to the family, to help keep her littles happy and content, to help with her housework and cooking. The day I heard Kim was in the hospital, I made a pot of soup though I knew I could not deliver it. Today I am making another.  Silly I know. But as I chop, season and stir I am thinking of, her, praying for her and wishing she were here.

Will you say a prayer for my friend? I would so appreciate it.  And I know she would as well. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Yesterday, our family had a celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe.  We have had a party for her almost every every year since Ben was a toddler.  Usually we have enchiladas, spanish rice and punch, sometimes carry out tacos if time is short or there is a new baby.  Often we play pin the tail on the donkey, do the mexican hat dance.  One year we had a pinata.  This year, we used the lovely ideas by Alice Gunther who so generously shares her creative Liturgical Teas at her blog Cottage Blessings.  Last winter some ladies from our homeschooling group got together and used Alice's plans in a group setting.  I vowed this year I would do them at home with my entire family.   My mother came over and helped prepare the food.  I wish I had photos of the food to share with you but I was so caught up in the festivities that I did not take any.  Every thing on the menu was delicious, lovely and meaningful.  

I placed a small potted rose plant next to Our Lady's picture on the table alongside our perpetual candle lit in her honor.  The children behaved well and were attentive, the food was done on time and everyone had a wonderful evening.  That doesn't all happen very often, where everything just seems to fall into place.  In fact, earlier in the day everyone was upset and grumpy.  It did not seem that our party was going to get off the ground.  Children were irritable and our family was sad.  Our dear friend has had some setbacks in his health, on the eve of the day we had hoped for a miracle.  He had to postpone his trip to Mexico City.  So we continue to pray on his behalf and are grateful to those of you who are praying along with us.

When the table was spread and the story of Our Lady was being read, everyone forgot their grumpiness and became quite grateful. Grateful for a home in which to live, for a plot of land on which to romp, for a family who loves them, for the friendship of those who truly care about our family.  All of these things we recognize as having come from God, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of our family.  

Prayers for Packy

There is a beautiful man named Packy who has spent his years on earth living out the Corporal Works of Mercy.  He feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, gives shelter to the homeless and in addition, is a strong advocate for the unborn.  This man puts compassion into action, living out his faith by helping others on a daily basis.  He is a father, a grandfather and a friend to many. 

Many years ago, Packy obtained a life changing favor after imploring Our Lady of Guadalupe's intercession.  He has since made pilgrimages each year to Mexico City in gratitude, bearing with him a box of prayer requests from neighbors and friends in need.  This is how our family met Packy.  We had recently finished a novena to Mother Mary that ended prior to Our Lady's feast.   A friend of ours was taking her prayer requests to his house prior to his pilgrimage to Mexico.  She was to include a request for our family (as we were going through a very difficult time back then) but she forgot to include it in her envelope.   As she was leaving, she remembered our request.  She began to write it on the outside of the envelope when Packy asked her what she was writing.  She explained our situation and Packy, not knowing us from Adam, told her he was going to help us as best he could.  That is the kind of man he is.

In the time since that day, Packy has become a father figure to me, offering prayers and help for our difficult circumstance.  He, together with his sweet wife,  gave us new hope and has shown our family much love and generosity. 

A few weeks ago, Packy was diagnosed with a terminal heart disease with a very short life expectancy.   He is praying for a miracle to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who has interceded on his behalf many times.  Although he is in a very weakened state, he and his wife are planning to go on their annual pilgrimage to Mexico City for Our Lady's feast to beg a miracle that he might recover from this disease.  Our family is begging a miracle as well to Our Lady of Guadalupe on his behalf.  Won't you consider praying or fasting for this good man for the next nine days?  If we start today, we will end on the eve of Our Lady's feast.  If you are willing and able, the following novena can be recited each day. I will post it each day as a reminder to those who can pray it. For those who cannot pray the novena, any prayers uttered, even a single Ave are so appreciated.  Our family is grateful for each and every one you would offer up for our dear friend.

Much love,

Rebecca

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Day One

Our Lady of Guadalupe, according to THY message in Mexico I venerate THEE as the Virgin Mother of the true God for whom we live, the Creator of all the world, Maker of heaven and earth. In spirit I kneel before thy most holy image which thou didst miraculously imprint upon the cloak of the Indian Juan Diego, and with the faith of the countless numbers of pilgrims who visit thy shrine, I beg thee for this favor:

[Mention your request]

Remember, O Immaculate Virgin, the words thou hast spoken to thy devout client: "I am a merciful mother to thee and to all thy people who love me and trust in me and invoke my help. I listen to their lamentations and solace all their sorrows and sufferings." I beg thee to be a merciful mother to me, because I sincerely love thee and trust in thee and invoke thy help. I entreat thee, our Lady of Guadalupe, to grant my request, if this should be the will of God, in order that I may bear witness to thy love, thy compassion, thy help and protection. Do not forsake me in my needs.

Recite "Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us" and Hail Mary three times.

Will You Say a Prayer?

I had been trying to reach my grandmother, Kathryn,  for a couple of days.  Today, I found out she is in the hospital because she had a stroke on Tuesday.  She has a blockage behind her heart.  Will you say a prayer for her?  I love her so.

Lenten Reading

This Lent, I am reading The Cross and the Beatitudes: Lessons on Love and Forgiveness by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. The book is a "correlation between the Beatitudes and the Seven Last Words". The first chapter is on Meekness.

"Blessed are the meek:
for they shall possess the land.

Father, forgive them,
for they know not
what they do."

"Violence says meekness is weakness. But that is because it does not understand the meaning of Christian meekness. Meekness is not cowardice; meekness is not an easy-going temperament, sluggish, and hard to arouse; meekness is not a spineless passivity that allows everyone to walk over us. No! Meekness is self-possession. That is why the rewards of meekness is possession (of the earth).

A weak person can never be meek, because he is never self-possessed; meekness is the virtue that controls the combative, violent, and pugnacious powers of our nature, and is therefore the best and noblest road to self realization.

The meek person is not one who refuses to fight, nor someone who will never become angry. A meek person is someone who will never do one thing: he will never fight when his conceit is attacked, but only when a principle is at stake. And there is the keynote to the difference of the anger of the violent and the anger of the meek person....

Our Lord is Meekness itself, and yet He drove the buyers and sellers from the Temple when they prostituted His Father's House; but when He came to the doves, he was so self-possessed that he gently released them from the cages. He is so much master of himself, that he is angry only when holiness is attacked, but never when his Person is attacked...that is why He addressed Judas as "friend" when he blistered His lips with a kiss. That is why Our Lord from the Cross prays or the forgiveness of his enemies. Their wrath directed against his Body he would not return, though He might have smitten them all dead by the power of His Divinity. Rather, He forgave them, for 'they know not what they do.'...

The first word from the Cross and the Beatitude of meekness both demand that we tear up self-love by the roots; love our executioners; forgive them, for they know not what they do; do a favor for those who insult us; be kind to the thieves who accuse us of theft; be forgiving to liars who denounce us for lying; be charitable to the adulterers who charge us with impurity.

Be glad and rejoice for their hate. It will harm only our pride, not our character; it will cauterize our conceit, but not blemish our soul--for the very insult of the world is the consecration of our goodness."

--Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Surgery Update

Mike's mom is out of surgery.  She ended up with a quadruple bypass rather than a triple. There is a long road of recovery ahead but the surgery was successful . We are so grateful for all of your prayers.

Please Pray

We returned late last night from a nine day trip to Virginia and Washington DC.   I have a lot more to share about our trip in the upcoming days but there is something urgent that I need to share with you now.

While we were traveling, Mike's mother Joyce underwent a heart catheterization.  It did not go as well as they had hoped and Joyce is scheduled for triple bypass surgery this morning.  Please pray for her, for Mike's dad and for the surgeons who will be performing the operation.  I'll keep you posted as I can.

Thanks so much,
Rebecca

The Advent Log

The tradition of the Advent log is similar to that of the Advent wreath.  It is a means of counting the days until Christmas in anticipation of the birth of our Savior.  Ours is a birch log, approximately 4 feet in length.  It contains a candle hole for each day of Advent, plus one for the Christmas holy day itself.  Some years, when the Advent season is long (like last year), each candle hole is used.  This year, because Advent begins on Dec. 3, many of the holes will remain unused.

The log was lovingly drilled by my father (may he rest in peace) who helped fell the tree from which it came.  I wanted a white birch because its bark is so beautiful against the greens of the season.  My father's friend just happened to have a birch tree in his yard that was dying and was happy to have it removed. 

Traditionally, families use purple and pink candles for the Advent log, similar to the candle coloring of Advent wreaths.   Our family uses all burgandy colored candles with one white candle for Christmas day, for no other reason except that we like those colors.  We use 12 inch taper candles which are just the right length for about a 15 minutes nightly devotion for each night of Advent.  If you are nervous that you might run out of candle (by burning too quickly) by Christmas day, you can purchase 15 inch candles from various Catholic supply stores.  I decorate the area around the log with greens and red wooden cranberry beads. 

The candles are lit every evening.  On the first night of Advent, we light the far left candle.  It is by far my favorite night of the season!  We turn off all the lights in the house and light that single candle.  We read about Christ being the Light of the World and sing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel".  That tiny flame gives such a bright light in the darkness. 

As Advent progresses and Christmas draws near, the light becomes brighter in the room with each candle that is lit.  We light the candles in an alternating pattern, switching sides of the log each evening.  This pattern ensures that the candles will have a cascading effect with the tallest candle being the center one on Christmas day.

The Christmas candle is very special.  It is pure white, symbolizing God's holiness.  Each year's new Christmas candle is lit by the youngest in the house (with Dad's help) using the Christmas candle from the previous year. 

On Christmas Day, we leave the candles burning for a long time while we sing, open presents and celebrate.  The Advent log is used for the twelve days after Christmas as well, ending on Epiphany when it is taken down for the season.

During each evening of Advent, we read from the Scripture, have a devotion together, pray and sing some carols in preparation for Christmas.  I will post more about the devotions and practices that go along with the Advent log another time. 

The photo that I have posted of our log is of very poor quality.  It was taken in our apartment, early in our marriage when we kept the log on our mantel.  In this home, we display it on top of our piano.  You can see by the number of candles lit in the photo that it was taken on Christmas Eve, as the only candle unlit is the white Christmas candle.  I have a more recent photograph that I cannot locate.  I will try to update the picture when I can.