Savouring January 2018 - Day 20 - Grateful

Today (January 20) is the feast day of St. Sebastian, a special patron of mine. He's
the namesake of my beloved bear, given to me by my Moma on the occasion of my
sweet 16th birthday. Knowing she would be moving away soon, Moma wanted me
to have a friend to help keep me company thru the remaining difficult, long, and
lonely days of chemo. Smiling softly as neither one of us had any idea what a good
and faithful friend he would become (and has remained).

When looking for a name for my brand new bear buddy, I was trying on the usual
options like "Teddy." A friend who was visiting me in the hospital playfully
challenged me into being more creative.

At the time I was getting 2 iv's during every single chemo. The first was for the
life-saving medications and the other was for saline to help keep my body hydrated
while also helping to flush the dangerous drugs out of my system so that they didn't
stay too long and begin to damage healthy cells and tissues. Blood work was another

constant, monitoring my white blood cell count and other things.

These were the days before "ports" and so every single time an iv was put in or 

blood was drawn, there was at least one new needle. My veins were already fragile 

in the beginning and, over time, they had gotten pretty bad with all of the sticks 

plus the potent medications flowing thru them. It was getting rarer and rarer for it 

to take just one try.

When I learned about St. Sebastian's story and how he was once tied to a tree, shot 

full of arrows.. and *lived!,* I knew I'd found a name for my new bedside buddy. It 

comforted me knowing St. Sebastian had made it thru all of his arrow punctures and 

his story was a deep encouragement for me to hold on to Hope. Maybe, just maybe 

I would survive too.

. . . . .

Long after I was in remission, I kept Sebastian close. He continued to sleep with me 

every night, quietly catching my stories and dreams along with my laughter, fears 

and tears. Smiling playfully because, as stuffed animals often do, he became a 

member of our family, even going on mountain trips with us.

A friend once commented to me in passing that once I found a husband, Sebastian 

would have to be put up. Without missing a beat I retorted with a snort (this was 

serious business after all!) that "if my husband didn't understand about Sebastian, 

then he wasn't the man for me!"

Grinning now because I have family photos with him included and there *may* even 

be a picture or two of family members other than me napping with him. Yes, my 

sweet bear was/is a very special and comfortable sidekick.

Smiling softly as Sebastian no longer sleeps with me but that isn't because my dear 

Tadd doesn't understand. No, it's because my cherished companion was starting to 

get worn including some pretty big rips under his arms and I didn't want him to fall 

completely apart.

These days? My beloved friend rests in his place of honor on my closet shelf. When 

the door is open, as it often is, I can see him still watching over me as he has for 

(almost) 40 years.

Ah, yes....I am deeply, profoundly grateful for my soft, brown guardian angel. 

(And lookie what color is bandana is!)

Blessed be.

#SavouringJanuary2018

.           *           .

Savouring January - Day 16 - Old

Me and my old, faithful friend, 

Puppy woof-woof.

#SavouringJanuary2018

.           *          .

Daily Guidance - January 10

Seeing Our Lady of Charity

reminded me of the song,

"Where Charity and Love Prevail.

Chorus:

Where Charity and Love Prevail,

there God is ever found.

Brought here together by Christ's love,

by love are we thus bound. 

With grateful joy and holy fear

God’s charity we learn;

Let us with heart and mind and soul

now love God in return.

Forgive we now each other’s faults

as we our faults confess;

And let us love each other well

in Christian holiness.

Let strife among us be unknown,

let all contention cease;

Be God’s the glory that we seek,

be ours God’s holy peace.

Let us recall that in our midst

dwells God’s begotten Son;

As members of his body joined,

we are in Christ made one.

No race or creed can love exclude,

if honored be God’s name;

Our family embraces all

whose Father is the same.

Text: Ubi Caritas, tr. Omer Westendorf (1961)

Tune: CHRISTIAN LOVE, CM, by Paul Benoit (1961)

.               *              .

Chrismon Tree and Me

.            *            .

Awaken to Love . . .

Another new-to-me archangel. 

Another new and welcomed traveling companion. 

Blessed be.

.             *             .

Autumn Afternoon Invitation

After walking to the mailbox on this gorgeous day,

I decided to spend some time in my swing.

As I was formatting the above picture,

this little red leaf gently floated down, 

landing on my mail-filled sack.

An invitation to look up and pay attention? 

 😉

As I was walking in, I found this *huge* leaf!

I decided to bring it in 

along with my playful little red reminder.

Such a festive, personal invitation to be Grounded right here 

and to find Joy in this very moment. 

🍁  .  ❤️  .  🍁

.         *           .

Timely Message from Archangel Haniel

yes

.          *             .

November Remembrance - The Story & Day 4 of 40

So I had this idea. . .

And as wonderful ideas sometimes do, it's been blossoming into a lovely practice for this, 

the month of Remembrance, that blessed time of year when we intentionally remember 

our loved ones who have passed on.

I'm not sure, she says with a twinkling grin, why it never really occurred to this deep lover 

of the Communion of Saints before that *this* is the perfect time to honor and celebrate 

those I dearly love and a concept that speaks so deeply to my soul. This one is in my bones.

So! With next month being the 40th anniversary of the discovery of my bone cancer and 

my parents divorce, and a friend reminding me that 40 is a significant number in the Bible 

(the Israelites wandered for 40 years and Jesus fasted for 40 days), I wondered if I could 

come up with 40 beloveds that have been particularly close to my heart and touched my

soul over the years? And, if so, might I ask them to pray for and walk with me during this 

holy Anniversary time? 

Turns out, she says with a fond smile, that I came up with more than 40! (Who knew?!) 

As I was listing those treasured ones, dearies that have not yet passed (thank you, 

Mama Grace!) kept coming to mind as well. Smiling big as I remembered we are all a 

part of the Communion of Saints so why not? Could I come up with 40 treasured living 

souls as well? (Turns out there were more than 40 of those as well). So by this time, I'm 

feeling deeply grateful and tenderly held. 

I originally thought I would just make a list of those sweet souls and keep it close and that 

list is here, gently propped against the lamp (a light unto my feet). Then it dawned on me, 

why don't I also put their names on slips of paper - cream for departed, blue for still here - 

and draw one of each in the morning to see who in particular I might ask to spend that day 

of remembrance with me? Then I thought what if I chose a word and an angel card, too, 

and just prayerfully played with how they might all fit together?

With my box of words hanging out on the dining room table this morning, I drew my word 

first on my way here to my chair. "Hmmmm.. Trickster," I thought. Sitting down and settling 

in with my warm cup of creamy chai on this chilly, rainy autumn morning, I gently shook 

up my box of names and drew these 2 beauties out. I'm still grinning big as these two in 

particular had a wonderfully playful mischievous side. Tricksters of the very best kind indeed.

Blessed be. 

❤️❤️

.           *           .

Grounded in the Light

.          *            .

Tender Medicine

I'm still so enjoying my Soul Call "Story" Cards.  This reading is one that evolved over 

the span of several days.  Each day, I'd pull a card (or two) and see what unfolded.  

Today I spent some time with them to see what wisdom Mama Grace and the angels 

might be whispering to me for the upcoming days.  

.      .      .

The miracle is your dream is the dream of all of your ancestors.

Be open and curious, child, your dreams are the miracle.

The miracle, dear child, is that your dreams for healing and relief can come true, lifting 

you up to a new level of Grace.  You are becoming a crone.

.      .      .

The miracle *is* is isn't just a dream.  The Grandmothers and Grandfathers *are* calling

you to Listen, Listen, child.  They want to lift you up onto their shoulders.  They want 

to love and support you thru this holy Month of Remembrance. 

.      .      .

In time and with practice, dear child, you have learned to listen well for the medicine 

that is needed.  What if, for now, the Hope is in giving to yourself and letting the rest 

go?

.      .      .

Listening is the medicine that restores and heals, lifting me back up on the road, the

journey that is my life.

.      .      .

Notice what Graces are offering themselves to you now, listening and looking for those

unearned and unimagined.  Undreamed wonders can lift and heal your broken child's

heart.

.      .      .

Grace is providing the restorative medicine your tender, aching heart, body, and soul 

require to be healed.  To be ready and able to live the dream that you and your

ancestors are laying and have laid at your feet.  

It can be a burden if you don't allow room and time for you to be supported and lifted.  

Be still, child, and listen for Mama Grace's voice of love, protection, safety, cleansing 

antiseptics, and soothing salves and balms.

You are being restored and loved and tended and listened to and supported and loved.

The miracle is this time is a gift - time you didn't think you needed or wanted - and yet

here you are and here it is.

Bask and Abide and Trust.

Blessed Be.

.         *           .

Shutter Happy ~ Day 21 ~ A Self-Portrait

Hubby and I had the pleasure 

of visiting a sunflower farm on Tuesday. 

#shutterhappy

.         *          .

Shutter Happy ~ Day 20 ~ Soft

Ah, the pure pleasure of chilly fall morning moments 

snuggled up in a soft simulated suede down comforter. 

#shutterhappy

.          *          .

Soul Call Story Cards

Lookie what came in the mail today!! 

 Yippee!!! 

 💜💜

.  .  .  .  .

My first message from the angels.

Surrender to your gifts, love,

and you will find freedom.

Grateful for my Story Bead's ever quiet reminder:

It's a Journey.

.          *          .

Swing Time . . .

. . . on a gorgeous afternoon.

Still not feeling well yet.

Just walking to the mailbox wore me out

so I sat in my swing for a bit,

allowing nature's medicine to do her work.

.         *          .

Breathe September 2017 :: Day 22 - Smile

Rediscovering the sweetheart 

at the bottom 

of my "Cup of Love" mug. 

. 

#BreatheSeptember2017

.          *          .

August Break 2017 :: Day 29 - Yes

. . . to some time in my porch swing after work. 

💕

#augustbreak2017

.           *          .

August Break 2017 :: Day 27 - Stone

Believe 

❤️

#augustbreak2017

.             *           .

August Break 2017 :: Day 24 - Silver

Handful of Hope 

#augustbreak2017

.           *          .

Grace Has My Back

.          *          .

Basking in the Light

(and another one where I sure see my Moma's face in mine)

.          *          .