The passing of a wonderful lady

Kathy, from the blog Ambling Along, has passed from this world, into the arms of our loving Lord. Her husband e-mailed me today telling me of her passing back on June 1st. I have not had a lot of time to peruse my favorite blogs, so had not been by hers in a while. I will miss seeing her wonderful photographs and wonderful descriptions of her and John's travels. She had battled a very rare, and aggressive, form of thyroid cancer, for a very short time. She was blessed to see the birth of her latest granddaughter, 32 hours before she died.

It's funny how much you can feel a friendship with someone you have never met in person. When I first met Kathy online, after she had visited my blog, and I hers, I felt so drawn to her. She had such a joy for life. I will miss her. I know we all grieve here on earth for her, but we can rejoice in the knowledge that she had been perfectly healed now and is wrapped in the arms of our Lord.

Please join me in praying for the repose of her soul, and also for her family, who no doubt are grieving and missing their beloved wife, mother and friend.

A "must see" blog on Keeping Purity in Catholic Classrooms

Upholding Purity in the Catholic Classroom

A blog designed to connect parents with children in Catholic schools who have real concerns about the human sexuality and safe environment programs being taught to their children.

Please drop by Josie's blog, as the information she is trying to get out to parents is so important!

Pax Christi,

~Kathy

Great Video

This is such a great video. It just makes me so happy watching it, because he is having so much fun! His smile is so contagious! An added bonus is seeing all the sights around NYC!

Year for Priests: June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010

Year for Priests: June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010

Please Pray for Priests

Dear Lord,

we pray that the Blessed Mother
wrap her mantle around your priests
and through her intercession
strengthen them for their ministry.

We pray that Mary will guide your priests
to follow her own words,
"Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).

May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph,
Mary’s most chaste spouse.

May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart
inspire them to embrace
all who suffer at the foot of the cross.

May your priests be holy,
filled with the fire of your love
seeking nothing but your greater glory
and the salvation of souls.

Amen.

Saint John Vianney, pray for us.

A very sad day around here...

Copper (1997 [?]-2009)

She's the Basset Hound behind the little black dog, one of the two dogs my daughter is holding on to. This was taken approx. 4 or so years ago (the old dog up front was put down, at the vet, about 6 months or so after this picture was taken, cancer also).

Mike had to put our old (12-12.5yo) Basset Hound, Copper, down this morning. I felt so bad for him having to do it, but we just didn't have the money and it had to be done. I woke up and the other dogs were upset, so I went out to see what was going on. I found her laying somewhere she'd never lay, and kept calling her, and she wouldn't come. She looked so sad, and like she was in pain. I called Mike outside and we determined that she was paralyzed from about the mid-section back. She could not move her legs. He carried her to our patio and I got her to finally take a drink of water, but she just acted so scared and sad. She tried to pick-up a dog biscuit (one of those mini Milk Bone flavor treats) and she could not bite down hard enough to break it.

We had been praying for the Lord to give us a sure sign of when it was time for her to go, and He gave that to us this morning. It's just so hard, when just yesterday she was running, barking and playing with the other dogs. We had one other Basset Hound have this happen, and it just does this, it hits their spine and then suddenly they can't walk at all.

Our other dogs are so sad and are whimpering and howling for her. They all loved her.

Please pray for my children, especially my son. She was his best buddy ever since he was born (we got her when I was 8.5 months pregnant with him, from neighbors who couldn't keep her due to their move), and they've been inseparable all these years. He did get to have some time with her this morning, which I think was really good, plus he had to go to our church's VBS, where he is also singing in the choir, so I think it helped get his mind occupied on other things. His eyes were sure brightening when we got to the church. My daughter will grieve here and there, over a long period of time. It seems that is how she processes her grief, no matter what it is that is grieving her.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook - June 1st

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more Daybook entries!

Outside my window... wondrously mild weather with beautiful blue skies!

I am thinking... about what I need to get done tomorrow (mowing the grass being one).

From the learning rooms... continuing along, as we school year-round, thanks to all of our moves with hubby's previous company.

I am thankful for... the Lord's blessings in my life, which are many!

From the kitchen... MIL's recipe for Fresh Mushroom Meatloaf, fresh corn on the cob, green beans, and mustard greens for hubby.

I am wearing... stretch denim capris, celadon green short-sleeved knit shirt, brown leather ballet-ish type flats.

I am reading... waiting on several books that I was able to get with a gift card we earned with our MyPoints!

I am hoping... this wonderful, mild weather holds out (it sure helps keep the house cooler)!

I am creating... some wonderful music files on my computer!

I am hearing... Hymns by Beth Nielsen Chapman.

Around the house... more cleaning and organizing, in preparation for MIL's visit at the end of next week!

One of my favorite things... listening to lovely hymns in Latin.

A few plans for the rest of the week... lots of things planned to do around the house, especially when hubby will be off.

Here are some pictures I am sharing with you ...

Monastery Miniature Horses - Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns

Brenham, TX

The Simple Woman’s Daybook May 25th (yes, I'm late)

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more Daybook entries!

Outside my window... beautiful blue skies and sunshine!

I am thinking... about what needs to get done for MIL's visit in 2 weeks.

From the learning rooms... noses to the grindstone.

I am thankful for... such a wonderful Catholic homeschooling group, and the blessing of a wonderful Children's Adoration Hour this morning!

From the kitchen... Tacos, refried beans.

I am wearing... royal blue capris w/ matching royal blue and white short-sleeved knit top, white ballet-type tennis shoe-ish shoes (they are hard to describe, nicer than tennis shoes, not as dressy as flats)

I am reading... I am just so uninspired in this area right now. I've got books around to read, I just am having a hard time sitting down to do it. And I love reading!

I am hoping... to get the house cleaned and organized before my MIL gets here!

I am creating... menus. I keep saying I'm going to do it, then I keep putting it off. I NEED to do this!

I am hearing... my Pandora station, Loreena McKennit.

Around the house... cleaning and organizing!

One of my favorite things... seeing an old movie that I love.

A few plans for the rest of the week... not many outside commitments left, other than Mass this weekend.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ...

Tomorrow is the surgery for my friend

Tomorrow is the day my friend goes in to surgery for her breast cancer. It is supposed to start at 8am CST, and is not supposed to be over until late in the evening (they are doing reconstructive surgery immediately following the mastectomy). She will then be taken to ICU, where she will be monitored for several hours. They want to make sure everything is draining correctly, and that no other problems crop-up. At that point, she will be taken to a regular room, where she will have to stay for another 3-4 days before being able to return home.

At some point after all of this, once the lab reports and all have come back, she will be told when radiation and chemotherapy will start.

Please pray for her, especially tomorrow morning at 8am, and throughout the day, as you think of her. Her name is Nadine.

Thank you.

~Kathy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook May 18th

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more Daybook entries!

Outside my window... beautifully sunny, lush and green, after the two days of storms and rain we've had!

I am thinking... about how thankful I am for the rain we have received!

From the learning rooms... working hard so we can be done ahead of my daughter's dental appointment.

I am thankful for... my husband standing up and going through the first Rite of his RCIA journey!

From the kitchen... Poor Man's Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. We are also in the process of making Hemin Bread (Padre Pio), that a homeschool friend of ours was kind enough to share with us.

I am wearing... denim stretch capri pants, short-sleeved knit shirt, brown leather flats

I am reading... Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith by Scott Hahn

I am hoping... that our weather stays as nice and mild this week, as the weather man is predicting

I am creating... a space for us to put things when we are celebrating Feast Days and other Holy Days

I am hearing... Little Women: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Thomas Newman.

Around the house... slowly getting things ready for my mother-in-law's visit in June!

One of my favorite things... sitting out on the patio in the cool evening, watching my children play and our dogs running around.

A few plans for the rest of the week... lots of school, library time and middle school youth group at church!

Here are some pictures I thought I'd share with you...

~Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid, before Hurricane Ike~

Small Successes - At Last

Share your Small Success at Faith and Family Live!

1. This is really a big thing, but I just have to share it. This Sunday my husband is taking the first step, through his RCIA class, in joining the Roman Catholic Church. I am joyful beyond words! My years of prayers have been answered!

2. My children are progressing nicely with the schoolwork. The many moves we have made the last several years really made it hard keeping-up, but through diligence and perseverance, we are making progress.

3. We were able to mow again. That doesn't seem like much, but my husband's asthma was really giving him fits this year, and it was hard for me to fit in doing the mowing. He is much better now, and he was able to mow the other day. Woohoo!