Success for me these days is making it to my one son's appointments and back again -- yes, because of his terrible aversion to driving...or being a passenger I should say. Throw in his ultra-nervous nature in going to an appointment...this was just a review of his medication for OCD; but it's so stressful getting him prepared to go, the whole mindset. At any rate, we did it....I should say we all did it together. Grandma, sister, another brother and myself....off to the ever important appointment yesterday and then shopping at Target for college and birthday items, and leaving there feeling pretty good about what was accomplished with Starbucks Caffe Latte in our hands :) The sweet smell of success! haha
So, I am still spiritually preparing for a new year ahead. Soon our pastor will come over for a lunch meeting with me in regard to our religious education schedule and program for the year ahead. This will be such a different year and I'm somewhat bracing myself for the change and feel of it all. I am even fasting for the positive benefits of it spiritually; I feel very much like I have to be prepared to deal with many differences and transitions and only God is going to hold me by the hand through this one.
Happily, we celebrate the Feast of Clare of Assisi in just a few days -- August 11th. We have a relic of St. Clare here at home in a small reliquary that sits on top of our china cabinet mantle. I think of her often and ask for her prayers and blessings in this home. I liken the many women saints I admire so much, my heroines, to a group of friends cheering me on and praying for my strong resolve and goodness in this life so I can enjoy visiting and conversing with them in the next. It should be a lovely tea party :)
May God bless you with a beautiful day and answer all your needs. St. Clare of Assisi, Pray for us!
7 comments:
I'm glad the appointment went well!
I sometimes wonder if my prayers are too simple, that maybe I need to be a bit more formal, or structured in my prayer, but as I go through my day, I find myself in nearly constant prayer, and in this current state of my life, I often hope that that is enough - that the more formal prayer will come when I have time to breathe. I hope my little prayers and offerings throughout the day are ...how do you say it? Not sufficient, but that He knows how much I mean them, and that when I lay in my bed at night and fall asleep - nearly every night - before I finish my prayers that God knows what was on my heart and that I meant to get them said! Praying especially hard for St. Gerard's intercession right now - I am nervous. Have felt so much better since I decided last week to just hand my worries about this pregnancy over to my Lord, and beg the prayers of my Blessed Mother, and Saint Anne, Saint Gerard...
I hope all goes well this year, and I will be there - where ever you need me, until March, anyways!
Megan, You are doing the right things - God doesn't fail us really, we just miss that he didn't fail us! When he does things in a certain way, he means to. There's always some kind of stress raising a family whether it's through the spouse, pregnancies, or actually raising them every day. While Mike's appt went well, can you believe he's starting to fret that Jonah's going away? What will I do for the next two weeks!?:( And he's also upset that Mark got into his therapy finally at Concorde and he (Mike) doesn't like the drive there especially early...So stay home!, ...but no he won't do that either....with him it's always stressful......sigh...this one can not grow up fast enough for me! I feel like driving him somewhere and dropping him off and driving away so he has to find his way back, fight through all his phobias and issues and maybe he won't fear anything after that! (Survivor!) I find myself relying a lot on St Josemaria Escriva also for strength -- I read his maxims and think about them throughout the day. Sometimes I'm just plain mentally exhausted.
When do you find out again about the details of the pregnancy? Let me know if I can help ever -- like come over and do something for you, etc., or just help with children at your house if you need someone there. God bless! D
Ah Denise, you have a tough one, there. Even with my anxiety, I am sure I don't understand all the intricacies of his OCD.
I'm so sorry that Mike is starting to fret over Jonah going away. I was a little worried about that when Jonah was trying to find a way to call him.
Jonah got a Subway gift card for his birthday, and wanted to know if he and Mike would be allowed to go there for lunch when he gets back. I told him I wasn't sure, but that we could check. What do you think? I think Jo was hoping to be dropped off there, (with us close by) so they could be big and go in and eat alone. Do you think this is something Mike would be up for? Right here in Minerva, with us close by? (Maybe you and I could go to Mickey Ds and have a coke?) Anyway, I hope he is okay. I know Jo has come to rely heavily on his friendship as well. My girls are a little ticked that I have thrown the "phone rules" out the door for these two. We used to have a 10 minute limit! But, I think it is good for both of them, don't you? Jonah's language and communication skills have grown so much since he and Mike have become friends. I hope that they remain such fast friends - they are good for each other!
As for finding out about the baby (ies), we go for our ultrasound on Monday. Doug is trying to keep me from looking at twin stuff, or getting my heart set, but it is a little hard to resist. I may be in for a bit of a crushing disappoint ment, even though I am trying very hard to just pray that everything is good, and healthy and fine, without hoping for one thing or another. But I am... can't help it. I must be insane.
And as for your offer - same goes! When Jo gets back, if you want to leave Mike and Mark here to go ...ya know, get a massage or escape to the Buenos Aires for the afternoon, then bring them over! Mike does pretty well once he gets settled in!
Thanks so much Megan; I just have to move slowly and cautiously with Mike in public and I like the idea of Subway -- I know it's further from home and that tends to bother Mike a little more ...we will work on it. I have thought they could walk to Grinders from here with a gift card I could provide and eat there (if Jonah would like that at all). I think might do that completely independently of me (at least I hoping big here!). Might that be a thought? I def want to work on leaving Mike at your place again...he ran into a bad time during the winter and couldn't manage being left very well anywhere -- long story -- so it wasn't good with family, we figured it wouldn't be good on friends...and we don't want you to have to be the therapist working him through things. He is SUPPOSE to be doing all that himself, but he still hasn't taken ownership of it....I'm hoping with age he will improve in that area. I would love for him to drive with someone else, stay with someone else, and let me leave without a fuss. He's just not N/T (neuro-typical!) Thank you for wanting to work with us, I want to do that too.
And I will be praying and waiting on pins and needles here to find out baby news. ALL will be fine either way....I'm excited for you and your family. Willing to help if you need anything! God bless,
Denise
Oh, and that comment you made about thinking your prayers need to be more detailed or structured....I think not...I think God interprets our grumblings and mumblings and screams very well! haha! Really, it is said the Holy Spirit interprets what we can not put into words....that should do it you know -- we are mere humans with limited abilities..Some times we can not express adequately our needs or wants to God, but he can translate and bless accordingly. How great is our God!!
HI Denise, Grinders is a great idea!I'd probably have to coach Jo on how to pay the bill and leave a tip, etc, but that would be excellent for him. I think that's a fabulous plan!
And hey, we are here, use us as you are able - we love Mike and understand at least to some degree what he is having trouble with and are more than willing to be patient and do what we can to help.
I too, am on pins and needles. I have never before wished away a weekend, but I really want it to be Monday, already! I just want to know! So, I will let you know as soon as we know anything!
Take care, see you sometime this weekend! Blessings, Megan
I can really understand wanting to know!! It's just terrible having to wait it out! This weekend will hopefully fly by..just think this time next week, you will have long-known :)
Michael is good at paying, (I send him in to pick up things, pay, etc.), so he can help with that. It will be our treat, so Jonah can see how it works - the waitresses (and owners) know Mike so they would take special care with them. Those two are so funny!
Ok, I must go help Pete, he's home helping with attic stuff today but has to go work at Babies tonight. Never a slow time around here these days!!!
Take care, see you soon - if you need anything let me know please,
Denise
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