Sometimes it's the little things ...

... that remind us of God's great love ...

We just put out the suet feeder and seed in the bird-feeder ... and the bluebirds have found their bounty!  If you look closely, you can see five bluebirds ... Monday they found the feed and since we often see two or three on the feeder while others are below eating the spillage; as many as 10 have been enjoying the feast we provided for them.

God is so good to give us this gift today ... the bright blue plumage against the white, pure snow ... the hope of Spring to come. 

I really needed to see this today ... we have so many prayer intentions for friends and neighbors ... prayers for new lives and the saving of old lives ... for many things that weigh heavy on our hearts ... for providence to fill our needs.

It's wonderful that the birds are taken care of .... and God is reminding me that He will do the same for us all.

God bless you all ... and thank you for your prayers for all our intentions today.

Prayers and a request, too ....

As Maureen mentions in her post, Regina Doman, a great Catholic, homeschooling mom, and author (yes, she is great at all three!) could use our help. 

Her 6-year-old son has been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and the current state of their finances and medical insurance will make it extremely hard for this wonderful family to cover all the costs of insulin, treatment, etc. 

Regina is asking, first and foremost,  for your prayers. 

We are asking for you to buy her fabulous fairy tale books ... Kotch (my 18yod) LOVES these books.  They are fairy tales re-told in a modern setting with a great message behind them.  Geared for middle-schoolers and above, these books are great reads. 














Regina also edits the Catholic young adult series, JP High:

These, too, are fabulous reads. 

Please buy Regina's books for your own kids, grandkids, etc and ask your public library to purchase them.  Let people know about these great, solidly Catholic books. 

Regina's family would appreciate it!

Prayers, please for a dear priest ....

Here's the final update ...

Dear Friends in Christ:


It is my sad duty to announce that my close, personal friend of 44 years, Rev. James G. Dull, passed to his eternal reward on Friday, December 11, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. in Rex Hospital, Raleigh, NC following a ten day coma from which he never awakened. His passing was preceded by a prayer vigil during which his life sustaining systems were removed. Bishop Burbidge, Monsignor David Brockman, Vicar General, and four other brother priests, along with his brother and sister participated. He looked serene and happy, and was beloved by everyone who knew him. Please remember him in your prayers. God bless you.


Sincerely yours in Christ,


Father Sal Busichio

This is such a sad thing ... Fr. Jim was a wonderful man, dedicated to being a good priest.  Prayers for all his family and friends.

---

I got this email today ....

It is with sadness of heart that I inform you that my loyal, devoted friend of 44 years, Father James G. Dull, is very close to death. He is resting comfortably at Rex Hospital, Raleith, NC, where he has been in a coma since Sunday, November 28, 2009, resulting from a rare bacterial infection which caused bacterial meningitis that spread swiftly to his brain and spinal cords. Father Jim has been given the best of care by the excellent staff at Rex, and everything which could have been done to cure his infection was done. Unfortunately, the brain was damaged to the extent that he is on the verge of brain death. Bishop Burbidge, Monsignor David Brockman (the Vicar General) and the entire medical staff will arrange that his passing is done in the presence of his family members (two brothers and one sister), the Bishop and Vicar General, and me. Please keep him--and us--in your prayers.

Please pray for this wonderful priest ... that his death be a holy one ... and for those who love him!

Prayer: update on my 14yo-God daughter ...

Here's a note I received today from my dear friend and mother of my Goddaughter  with an update on Katherine's health ...

Greetings everyone,

Thank you for the overwhelming prayers, thoughts and sacrifices offered on behalf of Katherine and our family. You all have surrounded and blanketed us in prayer, which we felt all throughout the day yesterday, and are so grateful to have from our community of prayer warriors.

Katherine had her medical tests, and while preliminary results did not provide us with 'answers,' their result was positive in that the neurologist who administered the tests remarked, "this is good that she doesn't have any nerve and muscle damage." So, he will turn over his findings to Katherine's neurologist, and we wait to hear from him as to the next steps.

On a very positive note, Katherine went to rehabilitation physical therapy in the afternoon (and her Dad has been her great coach at home!) and she has made great progress in the last two weeks. When I think of 'great progress,' I envision huge strides being taken, but at our level, being able to bend her knee an additional fraction of inch, or turn the stationary bike one rotation (when she couldn't do that last week) are the great strides we celebrate. She also stood up, supported by her two therapists, for five minutes :)

Again, I/we cannot relay to you how powerful your prayers and actions have been to us. A common saying that we all hear at times like "God doesn't give you more than you can handle." Well, I've learned differently. A very young and wise priest once shared in his homily, "God doesn't give you more than you can handle? Oh yes, He does." And he went on to explain, more eliquolently than I ever could...because in doing so, He allows us to call upon one another and build a larger, stronger community in Him. In joining with us our time of trial, you have built up this Godly community, and have made the challenges for us more bearable. We trust that in God's time and plan, His will, will be done. We thank you for joining us along the path to witness, and to do His greater work here on earth.

Please continue to pray for this teenager and her family ... and for the docs and technicians that they figure out what is causing these problems ... and that they're able to help her regain her health and mobility.

Prayers, please!

I just received an email from my dear friend down in Atlanta.  My 14yo God-daughter needs prayers:

Please include Katherine among your fervent prayers. She's had a tough start to high school and it has been complicated by health issues, particularly this last month.


The plethora of doctors are still trying to ascertain what's going on with a myriad of tests, so hopefully the good Lord will guide them to a definite diagnosis & treatment plan soon. At present she's has constant leg pain and is in a wheelchair (and has been for two weeks) and, of course, has a bad wrist w/ tendonditis too, and sleeping problems to boot. I'm hoping this all sounds way worse than it really is. But we're at the "I don't know what's going on stage," which can be trying.

She's being a trooper at times, but this is all difficult. Sometimes she's very uncomfortable with talking about all of it, so we're doing our best to respect her privacy and help her along the way. In addition, the wheelchair severely limits her 'normal' activities and life. Thus, your prayers would be most welcome. We're asking that you intercede on our behalf to ask the Lord to guide our doctors and caretakers to determine what's causing her problems, and be able to help her back to health.

This is one of those kids that's a really sweet, active, wonderful daughter/sister/student.  Please pray that the docs find out what's wrong and can help her. 
Thank you so much .... God love you!

Prayer: 85,000 Memorares please

Our favorite priest was here for dinner last night and mentioned a prayer request: one of the priests in the Arlington Diocese has made a promise to the Blessed Mother to obtain 85,000 Memorares if she goes to her Son and asks that this priest is able to build an orphanage/school down in the Ivory Coast ...

would you help this rather good man attain his goal of 85,000 Memorares said for this intention?

The Memorare to Our Lady

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

Our Lady is an amazing advocate for all our needs. May God grant this good and humble priest his request.

Prayer: please pray for a couple of guys ...

... who really could use the prayers:

First, my 20yos who "somehow" fell 10 days ago and fractured ribs 7-9, breaking rib 10. He can't work until he heals ... which means he's going through the money saved this summer for school to live while he waits to get back to work. Please pray that he quickly heals and that during this time of rest and recuperation he is able to discern God's will for him!

Second, a week ago, my bil Ben was in a car accident -- broke his foot in about four places, compressed some discs in his back and broke his right hand. Pray that he continues to heal and improve and that he doesn't drive the hospital staff and his friends and family nuts while he is on bed-rest (for up to 3 months!) while his back heals. Also, pray that if he needs us to head down there, that he has the humility to ask us to come down and help out.

God is so good ... and sometimes all we have to do is ask! Please join us in prayer for these two guys!