Evil Attack at Argentina Cathedral!

Have you seen the video on YouTube showing Feminists attempting to desecrate The Cathedral of St. Juan Bautista in San Juan de Cuyo, Argentina.earlier this month?  It is so disturbing that I felt the need to share it. It is evil and shocking. However, while watching it I found profound beauty in those protecting the Cathedral while under attack. Their faith, devotion, and courage was beautiful and inspirational.

 

Watch the YouTube video and then read Father Robert Barron's Word on Fire Blog. He examines what happened in the attack and I think you will enjoy reading it. If you're not a regular reader of his blog, you need to become one. It is an amazing blog that will help you in your walk with God.

 

I pray that all Christians hold fast to their beliefs and fear not when faced with evil.

May Our Lord Jesus Christ bless us all! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOCD_T9Qqpc

http://wordonfire.org/WoF-Blog/WoF-Blog/December-2013/A-Struggle-Between-Two-Loves.aspx

20/80 Through God all Things are Possible!

It's been a couple of months since I have written anything. Sometimes life just calls us to attend to other things. It seems that there was just too much going on and let's face it ... I got lazy. The past couple of months have been a time of transition for Ernie and I. Our daughters moved out and it was a bit of a chore. It's amazing how many things your kids accumulate while they live with you, and for some reason they can't take it all with them.We have now become a storage facility for all they left behind!

 

So what's life like without kids in the house?  It is quiet and not as messy. I miss having kids at home, the noise and laughter, and the sheer joy. I am learning to appreciate the peace and quiet with Ernie. We see our girls and our grandson often and relish the time we spend together. I only wish we could see Josh and Brittany more often. It is difficult as they live on the east coast. They are about to have their first child and we will soon have a second grandson. We can hardy wait to meet him! Our family is growing and I will treasure every moment we have with them. I will never take for granted the short amount of time we have in life with loved ones. Our kids have brought us so much joy and love over the years, and Ernie and I are so thankful to God for our precious family.

 

Today marks two years to the day that I was admitted to Porter-Adventist Hospital, and the madness of my fight with leukemia began. Today I celebrate life! I am now living a very normal life, feeling pretty darn wonderful and for that I am so thankful to Our Lord! I have recently returned to work -  Woo Hoo! It was with a little trepidation by my hubby that I went back to work. Teaching in  a school certainly has risks when you have a compromised immune system. Although I am still taking immune suppressants, I am slowly being weaned off of them. When my doctor agreed that I could go back to work with a few restrictions, I was really excited. It made me feel that I was normal again. Ernie was not as excited as I was. He has been so protective of me that it took him some time to embrace it.  I had to promise him that I would take every precaution before he agreed to let me go back. Everyone at my school is so supportive and helpful, it has been an easy transition back.

 

As I look back on my journey, I think of my battle with leukemia as a time of healing and not suffering. Though, my family also saw it as a healing process they will tell you that I did experience suffering, and I likewise saw them suffering. When you think of suffering, it has many definitions, applications and meanings. It is indeed a mystery. As I have found out, through faith, we not only find our way out of the darkness of our own suffering, but share that of others - and it is only through Our Lord, that we are comforted. All this happens for His reasons, and we are His instruments of faith while we live in this world. My hubby recently shared a reflection he read in which St. Paul writes to the citizens of Corinth about suffering; We should feel that the weight of our suffering is light in comparison with what God has prepared for us. Furthermore, people who offer up their suffering are comforted and filled with peace in the midst of their suffering! Our Father God is always near to his children, but especially when they are suffering.  "For as we share abundantly in Christs' sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." (2 Cor 1:5). 

 

I know that Our Lord has graced me with healing through the works of wonderful health professionals, and the care of my amazing family. In spite of my poor prognosis, a 20 percent chance of survival,  the Lord wanted life for me. I was faithful and Our Lord rewarded me with lightness, comfort, and healing.  I truly believed from the time of my diagnosis that the Lord would heal me.  I remember right after my stem-cell bone marrow transplant, I was taking close to 30 prescription pills a day and receiving daily magnesium infusions in my central line-port. I was also going to my oncologist once a week. Now I am down to 8 prescription pills a day and that will continue to decrease, the port in my chest is gone, and I am seeing my oncologist every two months.

 

As I find myself back into a normal life situation I desire with all my heart not to lose sight of what God is calling me to do in my life. I want to honor God every day. I want others to see Christ in me. That is a tall order I know. It is something that a miserable sinner like me will have to work hard at. Above all things I want to please Our Father. Please pray for me that I may do so.

 



Loving Life!!!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you."  Jeremiah 1:5

Last night I had the good fortune to attend an event with Rick Santorum as the keynote speaker. Wow! I am a fan! His message was very powerful and so inspirational. He is a man who walks the talk! He is an amazing family man, supporter of life and family, and traditional values. He is a patriot and a God loving man. He reminded me of how important it is to fight for our liberties, to  fight for life, for the sake of my children and grandchildren.


This month is Respect Life Month. I want the world to know that I AM
PRO LIFE! I KNOW that life begins at conception. At the moment of conception life begins and all of the preborn child's DNA is present. This is a scientific fact. No debate.

I have two precious grandsons. They are gifts from Our Lord, to be loved, protected, and raised for His glory. My older grandson is six months old and my younger grandson is 25 weeks and still in the womb. I hope you like their pictures. The older one gives the sweetest kisses and loves to laugh. The younger one is about 20 weeks in the unltrasound photo. Now, he can taste and feel pain and can recognize his mom's voice. How amazing is that! They are equally precious and I couldn't love them more!



 

I would never have my beautiful grandchildren if I hadn't chose life for my own children.

 

CHOOSE LIFE!

Love and Thanks!

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.  -  Matthew 7:12

Last night my family participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night fundraiser. I am so thankful to all of you that made a donation to Team GG! It might sound cliche, but donors absolutely make a difference in the lives of blood cancer patients. Together donations amount to millions of dollars that fund research, treatments, and aid to patients that need assistance.

 

Team GG flexing our muscles!

 

As I was walking around with Ernie before the walk, we stopped at the donor registration booth. I was looking at a book by a woman that chronicled her bone marrow transplant in pictures. It was really beautiful and brought a flood of memories back to me. I was overwhelmed with emotion. The Light the Night event does that to me. It leaves me feeling so blessed and so thankful for all of those in the past that helped LLS to develop the treatments that saved my life.

While at the donor registration table we engaged in conversation with a young man serving in the Army. He was a volunteer and quite a wonderful young man. Having no personal connection to anyone with leukemia he spends time raising funds for leukemia patients that need financial assistance, and here he was volunteering at the donor registration table. There were so many people like those on my team, family and friends of a survivors or those that lost their battle. We all gathered together raising money to find a cure for blood cancer. I am so amazed by all of the volunteers, and especially the caring young man that is not only serving our country but also giving so much out of the kindness of his heart. All of those participating in Light the Night were truly living out the Golden Rule.

 

As we continued to walk around we saw young children as well as adults that are in the midst of their battle. This was evidenced by those that had lost their hair to chemotherapy treatment and those with wearing masks. Then there were so many others like me that you would never know were recovering from treatment, or newly diagnosed with blood cancer. You never know what the person next to you may be going through. I hope that this serves as a reminder to be like Jesus to everyone you meet. Be kind and patient, thoughtful and caring.

 

I can't explain in words how beautiful Light the Night was. It was so easy to see God in so many in one place. It was a night filled with love and joy! Thank you to my awesome team; Ernie, Ashley, Lo, Ruben, Connie! I couldn't love you more!

 

Yours in Christ,

GG

Oh No it's Friday the 13th! But wait, it's my anniversary!

 

Triskaidekaphobia (from Greed tris meaning "3", kai meaning "and", deka meaning "10" and phobos meaning "fear" or "morbid fear") is fear of the number 13 and avoidance to use it; it is a superstition and related to a specific fear of Friday the 13th called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

 

-Wikapedia 

 

Oh no! Friday the 13th is here. Is everybody out there ok? I do not have triskaidekaphobia. In fact I love the number 13 and consider it to be my favorite number. Lucky some might say.

 

Today is my 27th wedding anniversary. I am so blessed to be married to my soul mate, my best friend, the love of my life. We actually met thirty two years ago in college. I have told this story often, so humor me if I've already told it to you. The year I met him I was watching him walk down a set of stairs on campus and I heard God tell me "He is the one." It wasn't an audible voice, and I can't even tell you what it sounded like. Those words came to me in the clearest way. I was't looking for love but I was open to it. Now, I have to tell you I had never been in love before I met Ernie or E as I call him. It wasn't love at first sight or anything. It was more than a physical attraction, it was deep and soulful for me. Now, it took him a little longer to figure out that we were meant to be together, but that's his story to tell. I knew without a doubt that God chose him for me. After that I was committed to see where our relationship would go and was totally open for love for the first time.

 

We have been totally committed to love one another, to honor one another, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live. In the course of our marriage we have faced tough challenges-especially the leukemia. His love and devotion to God, me, and our family have been so strong and never bending.  In my most difficult days fighting leukemia he stood beside me holding me up, caring for me in the tenderest way, always having total faith in God. While we have had an amazing passionate love affair our entire marriage, we have had something deeper- a spiritual love that is bound by God's love. I love E more today than I ever have. We know how precious each day is and we try to honor Our Lord by loving one another and living as God wants us to. We have been so blessed! Our hearts are overflowing with all of the love and blessings we have been graced with.

 

Back to the 13th and why I consider it my "lucky number." Our birthdays, our kids birthdays, and our anniversary all have a 1, 3, or 13 in them. Coincence? Maybe, but I like to think of it as our lucky number!

 

Love and Blessings,

gg

The Greatest Book on Earth

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. - Hebrews11:1

 

No Ashley (my daughter) I am not writing about Harry Potter, Divergent, or Hunger Games. I am referring to the Bible. I have never read the Bible all the way through from the beginning of the Old Testament to the end of the New Testament. I am now in the process of doing so along with my husband. We are reading it along with the book I highly reccommend, Walking With God by Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins. A great companion to the Bible that makes things clear and understandable. Reading the two together makes a light bulb go off in my head and I can see clearly for the first time. I have gained a totally new view and understanding of the amazing stories that are our rich history and I am seeing the Bible stories in a whole new light. I now understand that it is so important to read the Old Testament before the New Testament. It is the beginning of the story and is crucial to understanding and making connections to what happens in the New Testament.

 

My hubby and I have a great love and a passion for The Lord and our faith. Deepening our faith is bringing us closer together, and bringing us so much peace and joy. We have always been pretty devout Catholics, but are becoming so much more knowledgeable and passionate about our faith and the church's teachings. Our prayer is that we serve God with joy and enthusiasm. We pray that our children find the same passion that we have found; they have the foundation to get there. I pray that we are able to be the loving Christians that God has called us to be. So, if you are thinking about reading a book, pick up the greatest book ever written- The Bible!

 

Yours in Christ,

GG

Remembering Childhood Days of Summer

Well, Labor Day is upon us once again. That means The Taste of Colorado and the State Fair. It means that school is in full swing and all of the summer fun is over. .

As a kid I recall playing outside nearly the whole day. We didn't watch much TV,  but we definitely didn't miss classics like Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, or the Partridge Family. On Saturday morning we would get up do chores, watch Saturday morning cartoons, and American Bandstand. Most days we would come in only to eat, and then at the end of the day when it was time to get ready for bed.

Growing up in a time when families were quite large made for no shortage of kids to play with. There were so many children in our neighborhood. Of course growing up in a family with twelve children there was always someone close in age to play with too. My siblings and I would always look forward to family camping trips, our church festival, and the State Fair. Those were the highlights of the summer. Then, we would go back to school, the days would grow shorter, and we would be stuck inside again.

I remember all of the fun that I had with my own kids in the summer. They would play in the backyard a great deal of the day. They spent hours on their swing set and in the sandbox. They splashed around in their deluxe plastic swimming pool. You would have swore that little pool was ten times it's size with all of the fun my kids had. Later we would spend time watching them play a variety of sports.

I miss those care free days of my youth. They were so long ago, yet I remember them like they were yesterday. Summers that seemed like they would never end. Summers filled with so much fun and so much joy. I miss even more watching my Josh, Ash, and Lo playing during those hot summer days. I never dwell on those days for they are so bittersweet. Instead I have learned to enjoy each day I have now, and I am looking forward to watching my grandchildren enjoying summer days. God has graced me with new life. I am so thankful for each summer day I had this year. I tried to live each one as joyfully as I could. I hope that you all had a wonderful blessed summer.

My favorite things to do in the summer:

• Ride our bikes.
• Go swimming at the neighborhood pool.
• Camp out in the backyard.
• Stay out in the dark and tell scary stories.
• Play in the little house my dad built for us girls.
• Bake easy bake oven cakes with the jiffy cake mixes.
• Play jump rope.
• Play baseball or kickball (there were always enough kids to scare up teams).
• Play tether ball in our back yard. 
• Play jacks..
• Play paper dolls.
• Play four two square on the sidewalk.
• Play pickle.
• Play Tag, Red Rover, or Red Light Green Light.

Yours in Christ,
gg

You Can Help Cure Blood Cancer!

Happy Summer Everyone!

It has been 16 months since my bone marrow stem-cell transplant, and chemo/radiation therapies.  I am doing well, still in remission, and continuing to improve physically. I wonder sometimes if I will ever be where I was before leukemia. Then, I think about all of the medication that I am taking and what an impact they have on my day to day condition. I am getting stronger and my stamina continues to improve.  Immune suppressant drugs are keeping me in a vulnerable state; My hope is that my doctor is able to wean me off of them in the near future.

I am so grateful for the strides that have been made in leukemia research and for the quality of treatment that I received. Being diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and not having a good prognosis, I consider myself very blessed to be here today.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is committed to funding research to help cure patients with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related malignancies and improve their quality of life.  When LLS was founded in 1949, a blood cancer diagnosis was almost always fatal. Thanks in part to innovative research funded by LLS, survival rates have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled for blood cancer patients!

“Team GG” will be participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night^® Walk in September for a second year.  Money raised for this walk, funds therapies and treatment for advances for blood cancer patients. Your contributions will be helping to save lives.   In fiscal year 2011, LLS invested more than $76 million in blood cancer research. 

I am asking you to please consider making a donation to our team.  If it wasn't for the generous donations of past donors that have helped fight blood cancer and improve the lives of blood cancer patients, I might not be here today. So many of you were so generous last year and helped us reach our fund raising goal.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Your generosity may help lead to the cure we all pray for.

Thank you and God Bless,

~ GG (Team GG)

http://pages.lightthenight.org/rm/DenverL13/TeamGG

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Dear Father,

I come before you now on behalf of Joshua. Watch over my much loved son performing his patriotic duty aboard. Watch over, protect, care for, and bring our hero home safely to our family.

In Jesus' name, Amen!

My son Joshua is in the Navy and just left on his first deployment. We are so proud of him! He has always been a patriot and a good man. Sometimes I find it hard to see my son as a grown man. He's my boy. He's the cute, silly little guy that I watched play in the back yard. He's the kid we watched play sports for so many years. Then, I see him in uniform and think about the job he has as a naval aviator and it hits me. He is a man, willing to give his life for his country. He is smart and courageous! He is a hero.

Josh, or as many know him, Tito, is married to my lovely daughter-in-law Brittany. If you have ever had to make the sacrifice of leaving your loved ones behind while you served this great nation, you know how hard it was for Tito to leave Brittany. To add to the difficulty of their separation, they are expecting their first baby. He is going to miss most of the pregnancy, the birth, and the baby's first months. Brittany is an amazing and strong young woman, and I know there isn't anything she can't do. She too is making a great sacrifice for our country by supporting Josh. We marvel at her-she makes us so proud.

I think that so many Americans take the military for granted. I hope that you don't. Please remember those that have given their lives for your freedom. I hope that you also remember those serving in our military today. Remember their families, they are also making sacrifices. Remember that they are voluntarily protecting our country, protecting freedom. Please keep them in your prayers.

To you my son, Josh, I love you so much! I can never fully express how proud of the man that you have become. Be safe!

A Year In Pictures

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”  Matthew 7:7-11

 

I thought that you might like to see some images of me over the last year. See the changes in my appearance, including my hair, or lack of it.  I have always worn my hair long, so it was pretty startling to go from long hair to no hair. I think for most people it is difficult to lose your hair including your eyebrows. Cancer treatment may have robbed me of my hair but it never took my spirit! I always continued smiling, having complete faith in God's healing power! At least I didn't have to shave my legs!

 

Pre-Transplant.

 

 

My son Josh - the only one brave enough to cut

my hair, to ease the transformation to baldness.

 

 



My beautiful girls, from left to right: Brittany, Ashley,

and Lauren. Always supporting me!

 

 

Supporting the Broncos with Brittany!

 





 





 The sweetest guy in the world - my hubby Ernie!

Getting rid of my hair before cancer does.



My pretty girls!

 

  

At home after going into remission,

and before going to PSL for my transplant. 

 

My New Birthday! Receiving my brother's

stem cells!

 

 My son Josh flying in to surprise me after my

transplant.

 

 Hair starting to come in.

 

So curly! 

Today!

Praise God for all of His blessings!

Thanks to all of you that supported me and

prayed for me!



Motherhood

  "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Timothy 1:5:

 

Yesterday was Mothers Day and I caught myself thinking about the awesome responsibility that motherhood brings. Yes it's a great joy and blessing to be a mom, but it's also very difficult.

 

I remember how much joy it was to watch my young children grow. They were so cute and adorable! It was such fun to interact with them. Every time they would learn something new it would bring such excitement. Being a stay at home mom I was able to spend so much time with them, caring for them, helping them, and teaching them. Every experience was such a blessing. Let's say that the early childhood years were much easier that the years beyond. As they grew older there began to be more challenges.

 

I always thought that teaching my children right from wrong and good old fashioned Catholic morality would insure that they would never stray off the path. For the most part this was true. However, sometimes children have selective recall and refuse to believe what you try to teach them. They challenge us as teens and as young adults, trying to make us think that we are wrong and they are right. Somehow, all of the years of experience and the lessons that we have learned in life don't count for much. They don't understand that we love them so much that we are trying to help form them for God and help spare them difficulty and heartache. This can make life very stressful and worrisome at times. 

 

Motherhood brings tremendous love and joy, but it also brings worry, fear, and sometimes anger. It is a calling that requires a great deal of patience, even in the most difficult of situations. It also requires a mother to love unconditionally. This doesn't mean that you can't lose it sometimes, or that you can't ever be angry. Quite the contrary actually. Jesus and the Apostles were quick to correct others and exhibited anger toward those that were doing wrong. They did that out of love. That is the same kind of love that a mother must have in order to help guide her children do what is right in the eyes of God and not man.

 

My children have grown into God loving adults, and I am very proud of them. I wish there was a guidebook that had all of the answers for mothers to follow. I could still use it now, and it would make motherhood easier for my three daughters. Until then, I will continue to rely on the teachings of the Bible and the Catechism. I will also continue to instill in my children the importance of staying true to our Catholic faith and tradition.

 

Motherhood is an awesome calling. It requires a great deal of love, prayers, and patience. It also requires teaching and correction. I have prayed to so much for my children and always will. I know that my responsibility as a Christian mother requires me to continue to guide my children even as adults. They may still choose to have selective hearing and I can't do much about that, but I will always continue to pray for them.  

 



Tribute to My Brother

I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. - 2 Timothy 4:7 

One of my seven brothers passed away last week. He was my second oldest sibling. He was diagnosed with cancer back in September. He like my father was a strong, quiet man. He was a fitness fanatic and in such amazing shape. How many 68 year old men have a six pack! It was difficult to see him be worn away by cancer. He was so courageous and faithful throughout his illness.

My brother John James "Jimmy" to everyone in the family was an interesting man. He was a simple man, a generous man, and a God loving man. His life wasn't always perfect and he like most people had struggles in life. He served our great nation during the Vietnam War. He was a loving father and grandfather. His grandchildren meant the world to him. My brother was also an elite class marathon runner. Something he learned to love late in his life. His competitive accomplishments were something to marvel at. Above all he was a Christian man, faithful to Our Lord till the end.

Jimmy courageous and faith taught me grace and trust in Our Lord's plan for each of us. I am so thankful that my brother made his journey through life with a true love for Christ. He is now on to eternal life! He fought the good fight and finished his race! Rest in peace my brother!

Exorcism

Recently I attended my daughter Lo's thesis defense at Regis University. She is a double major and in the Honors Program at Regis. One of her majors is Religious Studies, which led her to write her thesis on Exorcism. Scary right? Where did she get this fascination with the rite of exorcism. Coming from a Mexican American Roman Catholic family there is no shortage of belief in God and the devil. We were taught that demons are around just waiting to tempt you and even worse get inside of you. I can even remember as a kid hearing my mom tell us "Get the devil out of you!" when we were especially misbehaved.

Demons and ghostly encounters have taken a front seat in the entertainment industry. I have to admit I get drawn into episodes of Celebrity Ghost Stories. I could share some of my own ghostly experiences with you, but I will save that for another day. I don't like watching most demonic stories and movies. I have a real belief that demons exist and I have no desire to watch the crazy portrayal of possession in movies. I have to admit those movies can be scary and I'm not a fan of scary movies.

What I learned from my daughter over the last eighteen months or so as she worked on her thesis, is that exorcism is actually quite different from what we see in movies. It can be a long process that may take weeks, months, or years. For exorcism to be successful, it should be a holistic process that involves medical, psychological, and spiritual healing.

The Holy Tridumn and Easter

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.   John 3:16

Tomorrow the Holy Tridumm begins. It is the final three days of Lent and Holy Week and the last three days before Easter.

For many this doesn't mean much. It probably means making sure that you have a new Easter outfit to wear on Sunday. For many children it means the Easter Bunny will be coming by to deliver candy and whatever else it his he brings children now days.

As a kid I can remember making Easter baskets out of construction paper and placing them on our family bookcase. I had many siblings which meant we would never have  store bought baskets. For sure, we never got new Easter outfits. We would be so excited anticipating the candy that would magically appear in the baskets by morning.

Now, Holy Week brings a sorrowful experience that ultimately ends with the most glorious joy and hope. Each day I am focused on Jesus Christ and the sorrowful journey that he took for me. It was not Pilate that condemned him to die. It was my sins. He carried the burden of that cross on his back for me. Each time Jesus fell with the cross, I recall the times that I have fallen; times that I have sinned. It makes me deeply sorrowful for my part in Christ's suffering.

 I have also been reflecting on, Mary, our Blessed Mother. Thinking about her sorrow. As a mother I can't fathom how much pain she felt watching her beloved son in agony. Watching as He was scourged. Watching as He carried the cross on His back where His flesh had been ripped from His body. Watching as He was nailed to the cross. Finally, watching Him in anguish as He died on the cross. Mary was so strong and she loved Him so much, she never turned away from His suffering. She was there until the very end with Him, until they layed His dead body in her arms.

Then, all of the sadness is wiped away and Easter brings complete joy and hope. I know that I am made new. We celebrate the Resurrection of Our Saviour, and His promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us take the sorrowful journey of the Triduum together as a community of Christians. On Easter morning let us praise God and thank Jesus for His unconditional love, for suffering and dying for us!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Okay so it's not my legal birthday, but it is a day to celebrate the new life God gave me. I was born again, so to speak, on March 8, 2012. That is the day that I received my stem cell transplant. I have been given a second chance at life, and I give all the thanks  and glory to God. He worked through my brother Bobby. I wouldn't be here if my brother's stem cells hadn't grafted in my body. He had no hesitation when he came to my rescue. I will be forever grateful to him.

I remember my stay at Porter hospital where my amazing doctor and incredible nursing staff worked to put me in remission. My incredible husband and kids made sure I was never alone. Ernie slept in that uncomfortable pull out bed nearly every night, and the couple of nights I made him go home, my daughters spent the night with me. My son and daughter in law were also there when I was admitted and when my son (in the Navy) had to return to Virginia Beach, my daughter in law extended her stay to be with me. I never knew how comforted and loved I could feel.

I was in Porter hospital for five weeks. I had a beautiful big room, which one doc placed us in, after she came in and saw so many family members visiting. Every weekend was really a celebration of family love. My brother Ruben and Connie would drive a hundred miles and spend each weekend with us, bringing enough food for everyone that visited. Let me tell you he is a wonderful cook and he fed all the loved ones that would surround me every weekend.The nurses couldn't believe what an atmosphere I was surrounded in. It was filled with food, joy, and laughter no matter what my state was. That was the kind of love that helped me to heal.

Later, when I went to PSL for my transplant all my loved ones followed me there. Even though they couldn't visit without dressing in gloves, and masks, and gowns. That is love!

So what does it feel like to be one. Well, it feels pretty darn good! I have been through a lot of stuff, this past year. The stuff has sometimes been frustrating, challenging, scary, and difficult. It has also been filled with the most joy and love I have ever felt in my life. Family and friends were always be my side. So maybe getting to this first birthday was a little sketchy, but now that it's here, its time to celebrate.

So what am I celebrating? I am going to celebrate the second chance God has given me to live my life for him not me. I know that he has more for me to do and I am ready. However much time God has left for me to be on earth I will serve Him. I will celebrate all of the love and care my family and friends have given me. I will celebrate each and every day as if it is my last, because I have a finite time on this earth. I will not waste it.

I want you all to know that no matter how dire your situation may be, you can overcome it. Through faith in all of God's promises, and through his stripes, you can overcome anything, you can face anything! He will never abandon you. I know that I always felt protected and comforted while I have faced my trials. I know that if your heart is open to Him you will never feel alone.

GG vs. leukemia

GG 1 -leukemia ZERO!!!

May God surround you and comfort you all of your lives!

Lent and Love

"I want to invite you to dare to love. Do not desire anything less for your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking of giving yourself"

Pope Benedict XVI

Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Fourty days to seek a deeper more meaningful relationship with The Lord. I will strive to do His will and grow in my devotion to Mary. I will pray that you all are filled with faith and grace, and that you have a fulfilling experience with Our Lord this Lent. Love Him and know that He makes all things new.

Today is also my sweet and precious daughter Ashley's birthday. She is one of the loves of my life and I am so greatful to be her mama. Happy Birthday Baby! I love you!

Tomorrow lovers everywhere will celebrate Valentines Day. I am especially blessed to be married to my soulmate. Cliche, perhaps, but so true. Ernie and I have been together for 31 years! Wow! It's hard to believe that much time has passed. We have been through many ups and downs. Actually way more ups than downs. With him even the downs don't seem so bad. I love him more today than ever! He is such a loving, caring, kind man. He is my Valentine!

Last year I was home for Valentines Day. It was wonderful to be home after five weeks of treatment in the hospital, knowing I would soon reenter the hospital to receive my bone marrow transplant. My guy is such a romantic. He made sure we had a lovely dinner, giving great attention to detail. Although I was very weak and suffering from all the effects of chemo. He made me feelso beautiful and so loved! He has always been that kind of guy, that's just the way he rolls. I often wonder what I did to deserve him. I am so thankful to God for him!

I am so thankful that I continue to recover from my bone marrow transplant and that I am able to celebrate Valentines Day this year with the love of my life. Truth be told we have learned to appreciate our love so much more. I can truly say that my sweet valentine and I have done as Pope Benedict XVI called us to do  "Do not  desire anything less for your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking of giving yourself"

I hope and pray that you see and appreciate how much you are loved. I know that I am blessed to be loved so much by many, and that is an overwhelming beautiful feeling.

Too often we take for granted those that love us. I invite you to choose love everyday. Remeber that you are loved more than you could ever imagine by Our Lord. Choose to love Him everyday!

You all will be in my prayers this Lent.

 

Protect Babies!

"Pray without ceasing."   -  Thessalonians 5:17

 "America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts-- a child--as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters" and, in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign."
 
Mother Theresa 2/25/294

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. I am so saddened by all of the children that never had a chance to live the lives that God gave them. My heart is saddened for those that chose to abort their babies. For whatever reason they will never know the joy that their precious child would bring to their lives. Their child will never know the fulfillment that God had intended for their lives. I think that we need to pray that those that abort their babies know that our Glorious Lord loves them and the He is all forgiving. Let us also hope and pray that their lives are healed, and that someday they will welcome the greatest gift God gives us.

I marvel at what takes place during pregnancy and have always been in awe of newborn babies. To carry a child and give birth was a truly a miraculous experience for me and my husband. I am so thankful for my precious children and felt such a deep sense of love from the moment I knew I was pregnant. The joy and love that I have received from them has grown stronger over the years. I am very proud that they are defenders of life.

My youngest daughter Lo is headed to the Right to Life March in Washington D.C. I am so proud of her dedication to the Students For Life Movement. I have hope when I see and hear of young people who still believe in the sanctity of life. Let us all pray that this movement continue to grow in the hearts of the youth in our country.