Sweet Innocence and Solutions

We have been praying a lot for the kids and people in Haiti recently. I have been careful explaining things to her so she has an awareness of what happened but that it doesn't become to worrisome or scary for her either, as she is one to worry and think too much about things!!!

My mom got a kick out of her last time explaining what happened: "The earth and ground shook and shook and shook and they got hurt badly and lost their homes. But I gave them money so they will get better and not be sad."

This morning after our morning prayers she told me:
"Mama, I think that the people in Haiti will get new houses because we prayed and God will give them new ones and also all their toys..."

Sweet girl, if only it was that easy...but the more prayers and trust like that the better!!

Found

Finally, Ameer and Emily, were found! You can read the article HERE, but their bodies were found in some plane wreckage and still strapped to their chairs. So we believe they must have died on impact. Thank you for all your prayers, at least now they can properly be buried and family's can have some closure. A MARINE buddy of Jason's has put in a request and plea with the MARINES to arrange them to fly Ameer's body back to NYC so his mother can have him buried. Hoping that works out. Ameer's facebook page has been inundated with people listing their memories and pictures of him, sounds like an amazing young man who could play a mean harmonica!! He will greatly be missed....I liked this poem that one of his relatives in Egypt left:

When this life I'm in is done,

And at the gates I stand,

My hope is that I answer

all His questions on command.

I doubt He'll ask me of my fame,

Or all the things I knew,

Instead,He'll ask of rainbows sent

On rainy days I flew.

Remember how the runway lights

Looked one night long ago

When you were lost and found your way,

And how-you still dont know?

And when the goals are reached at last,

When all the flyings done,

I'll answer Him with no regret-

Indeed, I had some fun.

So when these things are asked of me,

And I can reach no higher,

My prayer this day - His hand extends

To welcome home a Flyer.

Ameer Update

The search and rescue has been called off for now....updated HERE in this article. Sounds like ACE (the company) is still searching for the two pilots. A fishing boat found an empty pilot chair in the water along with the co-pilot (Emily from Seattle) backpack with her things in it. Please continue praying for these two young people's families and that their bodies can be recovered for a proper burial and family closure.
Jason spent time with Ameer in NYC where they were stationed together as MARINE C130 Flight Mechanics. One of their missions was to Greece and this picture was taken of the two of them then. They went to Gouverneto Monastery and went to mass. (Ameer is originally from Egypt and a lot of his family is still there. His mom came to US with he and his brother so they could go to school. Ameer was in the Reserves attending NYU when he got called up after 9-11). Jason and Ameer went on a big touring bike ride and the monks took them to visit the Cave of St. John the Hermit. Jason has some good memories and stories of his time serving and being friends with Ameer. Ameer had recently just gotten in touch with him about coming to visit as he was going to be doing some flights to the Seattle area. It has been sad to read his facebook page and see everyone's comments and prayers and sad to see his family in Egypt asking for updates. He sounded like a very strong, funny, friendly and caring young man who will be missed. Continued prayers for the families, for their finding, and for those who are touched and saddened by his loss especially my hubby.

Prayers Please

Tonight Jason got news of a former MARINE friend and flight mechanic. Ameer Ali has been a pilot in Alaska and last night his plane crashed. His body and that of his copilot have yet to be found and the search has been suspended. Even if they survived the crash after all this time in the water, they have almost no chance of survival. Jason was stationed with him in NYC and they served many missions together, including their time in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was hoping to see some more of Ameer as he was going to start some work around the Seattle area. Please keep all of this in prayer...so hard to lose a friend and praying he can be found!
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/rural/story/1105193.html
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/1105205.html

Prayers Please

(note: some of you have written and asked if this has anything to do with the breast cancer etc....that was Jason's stepmom Mary Hartsell who we glad to report is doing well.)

Friends & Family:

It is with a sad heart I write to you asking for prayers!! This morning started very early with news that Jason's mother, Vicki Hartsell, is in the hospital. She had not been feeling well for several days and was told it was a virus. This morning at 3am her time (in Virginia) she fell and hit her head. Her brother called 911 and the ambulance came and she was completely unresponsive and took her to the hospital. When they realized it was much more serious and she was bleeding in the brain she was airlifted to MCV Hospital in Richmond. She has had CAT scans and some tests done. We still have a lot more questions than answers but basically what we know is:

She is bleeding internally in the brain and the lobes have separated about 7mm already. Most of the bleeding appears to be in the area that affects speech as she is not able to talk or move her body. She is in ICU and they are keeping her sedated except for every hour they wake her up to see how she responds. At this point she can open her eyes and communicate by blinking. The neurosurgeon has basically said that right now he is focusing on treating her now instead of trying to figure out how this all happened. She has no external signs of the fall causing this trauma so they are thinking the bleeding had been going on and caused the symptoms she has had over the past couple of days and maybe caused the fall. He mentioned a possible aneurysm or something, but we really don't know. He has told Jason's sisters and grandmother who are with Vicki that the next TWO days are super critical to watch what the bleeding and brain swelling do. They are thinking there is most likely permanent brain damage but again hard to tell right now.
All your prayers would be gratefully appreciated....for Vicki's healing, for the family and especially Jason during this difficult time. We are trying to figure out trying to get Jason out to Richmond so at least he can talk to his mom while she appears to be coherent at times and get through the next two critical days. We will keep you posted...thanks for all the prayers, support and love.

Emma's First Prayers

I have been trying to catch Emma on video saying her prayers, but every time I go to try she catches me and stops! Finally got her to kind of do them today, so sweet...Jesus and Mary must be all smiles hearing little chilren say their prayers!

One of Angel's Goodnight Prayers

Prayers Please

If you have a moment, please pray for a friend whose father had a heart attack and will be having open heart surgery on Thursday...and his wife and family. Thank you.

Grateful

I feel so grateful tonight to have gone to mass and actually hear the homily (this barely happens but I went along with no little one tonight!)...and it was a fantastic one all about intercessory prayer. I also feel grateful for a wonderful priest at our parish that relates the message of the readings and gospel so beautifully and truly gives us something to reflect and pray upon and take home with us. In tonight's homily he used some excerpts and examples from a book called, Miracles Do Happen, by Sister Briege McKenna...all about how God sometimes answers prayers in a different timeline and way than you might want or expect but it is only later that you see the graces and gifts that were given because of that answered prayer. He also talked about the importance and power of praying for others and how they can be intercessors for us. He reminded us how powerful our sacrifices and prayers for others can be for their conversions and answered prayers and for ours!! I can't wait to read the book myself...because I truly believe that Miracles DO happen!!

Congratulations "Sister" Beth

My best friend and biology buddy from college, Beth Mooney, (and in TN we call those friends sisters) just found out she is expecting again. She was pregnant at my wedding and now Abby is 5!!! Please keep Beth in your prayers.....especially because she is expecting TWINS!!! I cannot imagine!! Looking forward to all the updates!

So sad, please pray. - Updated

I had just been on Amy's site (which I love) this morning and read her thought provoking post of the day...and then tonight saw the SAD and SHOCKING news that her husband unexpectedly died this morning when he collapsed at the gym. Please pray for her and her family as they grieve this tremendous loss!!! I have enjoyed reading several of his and her books and he also had a wonderful site. Amazing man, husband and father....rest in peace Michael.

UPDATE:
Danielle Bean is collecting donations at her site for the family. There is also a spiritual bouquet being collected, here. Also, Amy Welborn has asked that if you would like to tangibly do something....please buy Michael's book, The How To Book of the Mass, as her husband set up that all the royalties of the book go to their children's college funds. It is an amazing book to have, if not for you and your personal collection, you could always use it as a gift for First Communion, Confirmation etc. This is what Amy wrote:
Michael collapsed this morning at the gym and was not able to be revived despite the efforts of EMTs and hospital personnel.
We are devastated and beg your prayers.
Many thanks for all of the prayers and notes. It is overwhelming. Many have asked what they can do of a material or concrete nature. All I can say is to simply buy his books. Not from me, because I am in no position to fill orders, but from anywhere else. He long ago promised God that he would give all the royalties of The How To Book of the Mass to the children’s college funds, which he did faithfully. It is in good shape because of that. Buy them, read them, and give them away to others. Spread the Word. That is what he was all about.
She also posted his last article which he finished writing Monday...I was amazed at how now fitting what he wrote is/was:
While in Washington, D.C. several weeks ago, I ran into an old friend, Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, with whom I have collaborated on several books. We met after a Mass for pro-life leaders at Trinity College. It was exactly five years and 10 days from that night in Orlando, FL when Father Benedict nearly lost his life in a tragic accident, and almost four years to the day that I spent a week with him in New York, assisting him in putting the finishing touches on a book that he co-authored with Bishop Baker.
Working with a very frail Father Benedict at the time, I was reminded of an interview that he had given some years earlier at EWTN with Doug Keck on Booknotes. During that interview, when Father Benedict’s book Arise From Darkness was first published, Doug asked Father Benedict to elaborate on something that Father had called the “big lie” in his book. The “big lie,” Father Benedict said, (and I’m paraphrasing him at this point), is to think that if we say all the right prayers and live correctly, then nothing bad will ever happen to us. Sadly, there are many good people who have lost their faith by believing such a lie, and that makes it a big one indeed!
One only has to think of Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, and how much He suffered on the cross, to correct one’s view on this matter. In our own day, there are many whom we know have lived saintly lives, many who have prayed much, and yet have suffered too.
This brings me to another incident that I learned from Father Benedict while working with him four years ago in New York. I was waiting for him to make some corrections on a text when I noticed what looked like a wedding program. I asked him if it was for a relative or a couple he had married. He replied that it was neither, but told me the story of the person behind it.
Diana was a young Puerto Rican woman who grew up in a very faith filled home. Even though they were poor, her mother taught her at an early age to trust God above everything. By the time she was old enough to go to college, Diana found a way to pursue her education - again something that she credited to her strong faith - and became the first member of her large family to graduate from college. She then married and was hired by a large investment firm in New York.
Even though her job kept her busy, she found time to attend Mass everyday. When her friends threw parties, Diana made up goodie bags for them that included candy and make-up, but also a prayer book and holy water. When a member of her family couldn’t pay their bills, Diana secretly paid them. When someone in the family got into trouble she bailed them out of jail.
One night Diana had a strange dream. In the dream Jesus appeared to her, dressed in a white robe, standing on a cloud of smoke. He was beckoning her to come to him, telling her not to worry, that he was going to take her with him. Then it seemed to her that the whole world disappeared from beneath her and she awoke. She told her husband about the dream the next morning, but he didn’t want to hear about it—it scared him.
The next few nights, the dream repeated itself. She told her mother, who wondered what it could mean.
A month later on September 11, 2001, Diana was at work at her investment firm in the World Trade Center on one of the top floors. She phoned her husband and mother on her cell phone after the second plane struck the tower below her. She reminded them of the dream, just before the tower crumbled.
What is the opposite of the “big lie”? Trust.
When questioned by an English journalist about the future of the Religious Order that he co-founded, Father Benedict gave a simple reply, “We have no plans, except to be led by God.”
None of us knows what the future holds, but hopefully we can embrace what is inscribed in our coinage, “In God we Trust.”

Prayers Continued

PopPop Update:
Today has not been a great day. PopPop has been in pain with his arm and also not eating or drinking much of anything. He has some severe bowel impaction and also spiked a fever for a bit. He started having difficulty breathing and sounded very gurgly for awhile so they gave him some oxygen. I joined my mom at the hospital for a couple hours tonight and the doctor happened to be there. He was worried about pneumonia, so said not to give him anything to eat and drink for awhile...and also ordered him to sit up for a bit. Mom and I kept trying to get him to cough, and poor guy still had a sense of humor when he could manage to stay awake and respond now and then. He had an x-ray of his lungs taken and before I left we found out that he had not aspirated, which is good for the pneumonia worry, but just has some fluid in the lungs. So....we are waiting to see if we will be able to get him into surgery tomorrow for his arm or not....his kidneys and blood work was better so we are hoping we can get the arm fixed. Please keep the prayers coming, it is so hard to watch him in pain and struggling with breathing and such. Also please pray for my mom as she handles his care and needs strength, both physical and emotional, to get through these next few weeks.

FOR NANNIE:
Yesterday we also got a phone call that Jason's grandmother, Nannie (Louise Bentley) in VA, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday. She was having chest pains and found out that her blood had gotten to thick so her heart was working too hard. However, the hospital gave her too many blood thinners, which then caused her to start bleeding out of her nose PROFUSELY and her wrist where they had pricker her etc. It was so bad they had to admit her and pack her nose and change her sheets several times a day. Today her levels were back to normal so she is hoping to get released tomorrow....all the tests were inconclusive as to why her blood thickened up...but hopefully she is on the mend!!

Thanks for all the prayers!!!

Prayers for PopPop

Please keep my grandfather, PopPop as we call him, or John, in your prayers. Yesterday after Church we found out that he had fallen at the assisted living place he lives. He has had some trouble with falls lately, especially when he gets very dehydrated...which has also been occurring more frequently. But....due to his fall and the abrasions he got on his head, he also broke the area above his right elbow (just like he did to his left arm a bit back) and will need surgery. The sad part is that he fell and then was on the floor unattended to for probably most of the night. So this affected his blood work and kidney function levels. So they are trying to get all those levels back to normal ranges, so it looks like the surgery will not happen until Wednesday. The surgeon said he has NEVER seen this happen where the exact same break and surgery occurs on one arm one fall and then the other arm this time. Leave it to PopPop!! He has been in some pain, quite groggy with the drugs, not much of an appetite... but as usual has pretty good spirits. I took the girls in this morning to try and cheer him up, but of course hospital rooms for little ones only allow so much of a visit. We will keep you posted on his progress, but please pray for pain relief, a safe surgery, easy recover and PLEASE PRAY for the answers and direction for the decisions of where to call "home" for him after this is over as we do not think he can go back to where he was living!! I watch my mom and dad take such good care of him and only hope that I am as good a caretaker for my parents when that time comes. I know my Mamasan is watching over him too!!

Make sure we KNOW the facts...

Update to the FOCA Novena post and information....while most of the information is accurate, we need to make sure we are spreading the TRUE and ACCURATE facts about this bill, its process and understand them ourselves. A good friend (thanks Jenny) sent me THIS STATEMENT made by the Catholic Bishops Rep to make everyone aware of the TRUTHS of this bill and the days ahead....please read....and for sure keep praying...that part hasn't changed!!

Fight FOCA

We started this along with so many (hopefully) last night and encourage ALL to join in the novena to help FIGHT FOCA....it has such serious and scary repercussions should this become law....PRAY and FAST...LIVES depend on it!!

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If you are opposed to abortion, please read the information below and join us in prayer and fasting January 11-19, 2009.

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) will be signed into law if Congress passes it on January 21-22, 2009. The FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If signed into law, all limitations on abortion will be lifted, resulting in the following:

1) All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, will be required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens, Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals - more then 30% of all hospitals in the U.S.

2) Partial birth abortions will be legal and have no limitations.

3) All U.S. taxpayers will be funding abortions.

4) Parental notification of abortions on minors will no longer be required (regardless of age).

5) The estimated number of increase in abortions is 100,000 annually.

Just as important, the government will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (rape, Down Syndrome babies, etc) and could even regulate how many children women are allowed to have.

Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadly true. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.

PLEASE JOIN US IN saying a novena and fasting from January 11-19. For Catholics, the prayer of choice is the rosary for the special intention of stopping the FOCA. For non-Catholics we encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intention for 9 consecutive days. We hope and pray this will branch and blossom to become a global effort.

Please do the following 3 things:

1) Pass this information on quickly (so as many as possible can start praying on January 11)

2) Say a novena from January 11-19, asking God to prevent the FOCA from becoming law in the U.S.

3) Fast at least 2 days during this novena (either a complete fast of bread and water, or a Lenten fast of no meat and meals limited to 1 regular meal and 2 lesser meals during the day).

Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless children, please join us in prayer and fasting.

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EWTN has a good election prayer , which we will be adding to pray for our President Elect and his change of heart for life issues.

Finally!!

For the LONGEST time, Angel has been saying the Hail Mary as if they were two separate prayers...the Hail Mary part then Amen...then the Holy Mary part and Amen. And she always stumbled over "fruit of your womb Jesus". But...she seems to have finally figured out all the words and just LOVES to "show Mary" how she has learned her prayer...Mary must love to hear the prayers of the little children!!

Let the Little Children Come to Me...

...there is a sweetness about little children learning their prayers and such a sincerity in which they say them. I have been trying to catch Angelica saying her Hail Mary for awhile now but every time she spots me with the camera!! It is so cute....she knows it very well when we say it together, but when she does it alone she splits it into two prayers...the Hail Mary and the Holy Mary with an Amen at the end of both!! We have been adding prayers to her night time prayers and she has fallen in love with her Guardian Angel prayer...we have to say it about twice at night and she repeats it during the day. Yesterday Jason found her kneeling in front of our nativity scene saying it.....because after all there is an Angel on top!! So today, I caught her again and here it is....notice when I try to get her to say her other prayers she always goes back to the Angel one...and I have no idea what the Tupperware lid adds to the prayer at the end! So sweet, definitely one of those melt your heart memories to hold onto! (sorry a little dark)

Another Great Novena

We enjoyed praying the Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe....
...we are continuing our St. Andrew Novena until Christmas...
...and just started last night this beautiful Christmas Novena (Novena to the Child Jesus Infant of Prague).

Prayers Please....Baby Sturhahn

My sister Meghan called me at 630 this morning, so I immediately knew it was baby news. She went in for her check up today (her due date is the 20th) to find out she is already 5 cm dilated....I guess that uncomfortable feeling Megs the last couple of days has been LABOR!! (reminds me of how it all happened with Emma...a bad night sleep was active labor!) So the labor nerves are starting....the doc wants her to come to the hospital and will see what happens next....Mom of course (just like Emma's birth) is in Daytona, FL for Caitlin's national soccer tournament....so she is busily making her way to the airport to catch the next flight out to NYC...at least this time she is on the right coast!! So please pray for a safe labor and delivery and a healthy baby boy!! We will keep you posted!! Wish I could beam myself to NYC!!!

A Prayer to St. Gerard for Safe Delivery
O great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted child of Mother of God, enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love.
O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the patron and protector of expectant mothers. Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the purifying and life-giving waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

*And while I think they have the name picked out, here are the Saints of the Day...hehe.*
St. Bibiana
St. Chromatius
St. Lupus of Verona
St. Pontian

St. Andrew (Christmas Novena) Starts Today

St. Andrew Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and momentin which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary,at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God!to hear my prayer and grant my desires (here is where you mention your request), through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ,and of His Blessed Mother.

Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a dayfrom the feast of St. Andrew, on November 30th, until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

[Imprimatur: +MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York, New York, February 6, 1897.]