Blessings - Laura Story

 

[this song speaks to me EVERY TIME I hear it]

 

"Blessings"

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace.
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.
We pray for healing, for prosperity.
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.
And all the while, You hear each spoken need,
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things.

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops.
What if Your healing comes through tears.
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near.
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear.
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.
We doubt Your goodness; we doubt Your love...
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough.
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe.

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops.
What if Your healing comes through tears.
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near.
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.

When friends betray us...
When darkness seems to win,
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home!
It's not our home.

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops.
What if Your healing comes through tears.
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near.

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy.

What if trials of this life...
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights...
Are your mercies in disguise.

Colossians 3:12-17

Seven Word Status

 

I am truly blessed with wonderful friends.

 

 

Someone Worth Dying For - Mike's Chair

 

 

"Someone Worth Dying For"

Mike's Chair

You might be the wife waiting up at night
You might be the man struggling to provide
Feeling like it's hopeless

Maybe you're the son who chose a broken road
Maybe you're the girl thinking you'll end up alone
Praying God, can You hear me?
Oh, God, are You listening?

Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah, I wanna believe
I wanna believe that

I'm not just some wandering soul
That You don't see and You don't know
Yeah, I wanna believe, Jesus, help me believe
That I am someone worth dying for

I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free
But you think you're the one that grace could never reach
So you just keep asking
Oh, what everybody's asking

Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah I wanna believe
I wanna believe that

I'm not just some wandering soul
That You don't see and You don't know
Yeah, I wanna believe, Jesus, help me believe
That I am someone worth dying for

You're worth it, you can't earn it
Yeah, the cross has proven
That You're sacred and blameless
Your life has purpose

You are more than flesh and bone
Can't you see, you're something beautiful?
Yes, you gotta believe, you gotta believe
He wants you to see, He wants you to see

That you're not just some wandering soul
That can't be seen and can't be known
Yeah, you gotta believe, you gotta believe that you are
Someone worth dying for, oh

You're someone worth dying for, oh
You're someone worth dying for

Listen up!

I believe that God speaks to us all the time.  And if we don't listen, He speaks louder.  And if we still don't hear Him, He finds a way to speak louder.  And if we continue to disregard His voice, He'll get even LOUDER...until He has to use drastic, possibly painful, measures to get our attention.

Well, apparently I haven't been listening to His words for me lately.  Because in the last two weeks, I've had a couple of very hard lessons handed to me.  After being hurt and angry, and then crying for hours...on TWO different occasions, I heard His message loud and clear.  "Move on!  Let go!  I have other plans for you!"

Failing to listen to God's word, shows our (my) determination to pursue life through our (my) own resources and foolishness.  Why would I not choose to listen to the One Who created me?  Had I listened earlier, it could have saved a lot of tears and frustration.

Not only that, listening to God shows that I trust Him.  I DO trust Him.  And I want Him to know that I trust Him.  He knows much better than I do, what it better for me.


James 1:19-25 
19Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, 20for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. 21Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.*
22Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.  23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.  24He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like.**
25But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts.  Such a one shall be blessed in what he does.***

* [19-21]To be quick to hear the gospel is to accept it readily and to act in conformity with it, removing from one’s soul whatever is opposed to it, so that it may take root and effect salvation.
** [22-24]To listen to the gospel message but not practice it is failure to improve oneself.
*** [25]Only conformity of life to the perfect law of true freedom brings happiness.

Merry Christmas!

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

 

[I sang this during communion at mass today...though not nearly as well as Fernando Ortega does here.]

I love the haunting, yet peaceful melody of this song.  (It speaks to my somber mood this weekend.)  And the words are beautiful and especially appropriate for the Christmas season.

Seven Word Status

 

Fighting depression today...sequestered in my home.

All I Want for Christmas

- someone to share my life with, a soulmate that loves me and thinks I'm beautiful, even when I'm not.
- a clean, organized, comfortably decorated, warm and cozy, softly lit home with the light scent of vanilla and burning leaves.
- employment for my friends and family who aren't working and want to be.
- a successful Relay...and no more cancer!
- no more depression...for anyone!
- self-discipline, a diligent work ethic, patience, and a humble and kind heart.

Philippians 4:4-7

[the second reading from mass this weekend...and one of my favorite passages when I'm stressed]

Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Seven Word Status

 

Must learn to stop holding a grudge.

Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

[the second reading from mass this weekend]

Brothers and sisters:

I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the One who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.

God is my witness,
how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.

Seven Word Status

 

He loves me.  He loves me not.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

[from the second reading at mass this weekend]

Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Seven Word Status

 

65 degrees on December 1st!

Greenhouse effect?

Daniel 7:13-14

[the first reading at mass this weekend]

As the visions during the night continued,
I saw one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Seven Word Status

I forgot to get a surge protector.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family!

Psalm 16:5, 8-11

[the psalm from mass this weekend]

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
 
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Seven Word Status

"Mother and Son" by Stephen Armstrong

 

I spent the whole day with Jeff!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

1. I'm thankful for my health.
2. I'm thankful for my mind.
3. I'm thankful for my faith.
4. I'm thankful for my parents.
5. I'm thankful for my siblings.
6. I'm thankful for my extended family.
7. I'm thankful for my son.
8. I'm thankful for all my friends.
9. I'm thankful that I'm a mother.
10. I'm thankful that I'm employed.
11. I'm thankful that I can sing.
12. I'm thankful that I love to read.
13. I'm thankful that I can be funny.
14. I'm thankful that I'm an American.
15. I'm thankful that I have a roof over my head.
16. I'm thankful that I live in God's Country.
17. I'm thankful for my anti-depressants.
18. I'm thankful that I have insurance.
19. I'm thankful that I can remember my dreams.
20. I'm thankful for long, hot baths.
21. I'm thankful for laughter.
22. I'm thankful for good nights' sleep.
23. I'm thankful for music.
24. I'm thankful for weekends.
25. I'm thankful for football.
26. I'm thankful for thunderstorms.
27. I'm thankful for ice cream.
28. I'm thankful for religious freedom.
29. I'm thankful for everlasting life.
30. I'm thankful that I woke up again today.

Hebrews 9:24-28

[from the second reading at mass this weekend]

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time,
not to take away sin,
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

HAPPY VETERANS' DAY!

 

Thank you to all my friends and family who have served.

Grandpa Tim Strange, US Army
Uncle Tim Strange, US Army
Uncle David Strange, US Army
Uncle Tom Strange, US Air Force
Uncle Mickey Strange, US Navy
Uncle Ed Strange, US Air Force
Uncle Jim Norris, US Army
Uncle Jim Love, US Army
Uncle Leo Haag, US Navy
Uncle George Doyle, US Marines
Uncle Joe Doyle, US Army National Guard
Cousin, Gary Love, US Army National Guard
Cousin, Patrick Todd, US Army National Guard
Cousin, John Volz, US Army
Brother, Alan Doyle, US Air Force
Myself, Leslie Doyle, US Air Force
Sister, Jill Wheeley, US Air Force

Seven Word Status

Fighting a cold...but finished the laundry!

In Loving Memory

My cousin passed away this week.  He was only 29.  He was born with some pretty serious heart issues.  And 6 1/2 years ago, he had a heart transplant.  But this week, he had a heart attack...and died.  He was too young to go.

Lord, please bless Adrien and everyone grieving his loss.  Amen.

[From the Browning Funeral Home website]

Name:Adrien Joseph Mowery

Dates:
Birth date: April 3, 1983
Death date: November 6, 2012

Obituary:

Adrien Joseph Mowery, 29, of Evansville, Indiana passed away Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

Adrien was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 3, 1983. He graduated from Washington High School in 2001. While in high school, he especially enjoyed a mission trip he took to New Mexico. Adrien worked in the Macy's shoe department in Evansville for 5 years. He attended Western Kentucky University, Vincennes University and USI in Evansville where he loved studying Arts and Science. Among his passions in life were drawing, reading books, watching movies, photography, cooking, geography, paleontology and listening to techno music and artists such as Moby and Daft Punk. Adrien loved pets and aquariums. He even volunteered one summer, as a docent, at the Mesker Park Zoo.

Adrien is survived by his father, Rex Mowery of Evansville, IN and Rex's devoted friend, Maria Venturini; his mother, Mary "Susan" Rebstock and step father, Nick Rebstock of Ocean Springs, MS; his sister, Sarah Appel and brother-in-law, Jeff Appel of Boonville, IN; step-sister, Michelle Rebstock; step-brother, Troy Rebstock; nieces, Makaelyn and Brooklyn Appel; grandmothers, Karen Norris and Helen Mowery; his best friends, Amy, Jeanie, Jasmine and Maggie; aunts and uncles, Karla and Mark Wade, Kim and Rick Byrne, Kelly Norris, Kevin and Susan Norris and Lisa Ruehl; and many cousins.

Adrien is preceded in death by his grandfathers, James Norris and Norman Rex Mowery.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, November 12, 2012 at Browning Funeral Home, 738 Diamond Ave., Evansville, IN 47711 with Adrien's uncle, Deacon Mark Wade, officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Vincennes, Indiana.

Friends may visit from 12:00 PM until 6:00 PM, Sunday, November 11, 2012 at Browning Funeral Home and again from 12:00 Noon until service time on Monday.

Memorial contributions may be made to Riley Children's Hospital, 30 South Meridian Street, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3509.

Adrien was a recipient of a heart transplant in May of 2006 and his family wishes to thank Adrien's donor and all the doctors and nurses at Methodist Hospital and Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, especially Dr. O'Donnell, Dr. Brown, Dr. Hurwitz, Diane, Aly, Mary, Cheryl, Debbie, Jen and all the others.

Condolences may be made online at www.browningfuneral.com.

Memorials:
Memorial contributions may be made to Riley Children's Hospital, 30 South Meridian Street, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3509.

Visitation:
Friends may visit from 12:00 PM until 6:00 PM, Sunday, November 11, 2012 at Browning Funeral Home and again from 12:00 Noon until service time on Monday.

Service:
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, November 12, 2012 at Browning Funeral Home, 738 Diamond Ave., Evansville, IN 47711 with Adrien's uncle, Deacon Mark Wade, officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Vincennes, Indiana.

Deuteronomy 6:2-6

[from the first reading at mass this weekend]

Moses spoke to the people, saying:
"Fear the LORD, your God,
and keep, throughout the days of your lives,
all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you,
and thus have long life.
Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them,
that you may grow and prosper the more,
in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers,
to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."

Seven Word Status

 

I saw a few pumpkin patches today!

 

 

 

...decided not to go with more obvious options...

 

 

 

"Lady Lions finish second in State Championship!"

 

or

 

 

"It's my birthday and I want presents!"

Litany of Saints

The Litany of the Saints is one of the oldest prayers in continuous use in the Catholic Church. Forms of it were used in the East as early as the third century, and the litany as we know it today was largely in place by the time of Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604).  In honor of All Saints Day, I've included the Litany of Saints.

Litany of the Saints

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Saint Michael, pray for us.
Saint Gabriel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, pray for us.
All ye holy angels and archangels, pray for us.
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets, pray for us.
Saint Peter, pray for us.
Saint Paul, pray for us.
Saint Andrew, pray for us.
Saint James, pray for us.
Saint John, pray for us.
Saint Thomas, pray for us.
Saint James, pray for us.
Saint Philip, pray for us.
Saint Bartholomew, pray for us.
Saint Matthew, pray for us.
Saint Simon, pray for us.
Saint Thaddeus, pray for us.
Saint Matthias, pray for us.
Saint Barnabas, pray for us.
Saint Luke, pray for us.
Saint Mark, pray for us.
All ye holy apostles and evangelists, pray for us.
All ye holy disciples of the Lord, pray for us.
All ye holy innocents,pray for us.
Saint Stephen, pray for us.
Saint Lawrence, pray for us.
Saint Vincent, pray for us.
Saints Fabian and Sebastian, pray for us.
Saints John and Paul, pray for us.
Saints Cosmos and Damian, pray for us.
Saints Gervase and Protase, pray for us.
All ye holy martyrs, pray for us.
Saint Sylvester, pray for us.
Saint Gregory, pray for us.
Saint Ambrose, pray for us.
Saint Augustine, pray for us.
Saint Jerome, pray for us.
Saint Martin, pray for us.
Saint Nicholas, pray for us.
All ye holy bishops and confessors, pray for us.
All ye holy doctors, pray for us.
Saint Anthony, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, pray for us.
Saint Bernard, pray for us.
Saint Dominic,  pray for us.
Saint Francis, pray for us.
All ye holy priests and levites, pray for us.
All ye holy monks and hermits, pray for us.
Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
Saint Agatha, pray for us.
Saint Lucy, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, pray for us.
Saint Catherine, pray for us.
Saint Anastasia, pray for us.
Saint Clare, pray for us.
All ye holy virgins and widows, pray for us.
All ye holy men and women, saints of God, make intercession for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, O Lord deliver us.
From all sin, O Lord deliver us.
From Thy wrath, O Lord deliver us.
From sudden and unprovided death, O Lord deliver us.
From the snares of the devil, O Lord deliver us.
From anger, and hatred, and all ill-will, O Lord deliver us.
From the spirit of fornication, O Lord deliver us.
From the scourge of earthquake, O Lord deliver us.
From plague, famine, and war, O Lord deliver us.
From lightning and tempest, O Lord deliver us.
From everlasting death, O Lord deliver us.
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, O Lord deliver us.
Through Thy coming, O Lord deliver us.
Through Thy birth, O Lord deliver us.
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, O Lord deliver us.
Through the Institution of the Most Blessed Sacrament, O Lord deliver us.
Through Thy cross and passion, O Lord deliver us.
Through Thy death and burial, O Lord deliver us.
Through Thy holy resurrection, O Lord deliver us.
Through Thine admirable Ascension, O Lord deliver us.
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost the Paraclete, O Lord deliver us.
In the day of judgment, O Lord deliver us.
We sinners, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst spare us, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst pardon us, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate and all orders of the Church in holy religion, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring back to the unity of the Church all those who have strayed away and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and benefactors from eternal damnation, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Son of God, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Let us pray.
Almighty, everlasting God, who hast dominion over both the living and the dead and art merciful to all who, as Thou foreknowest, will be Thine by faith and works; we humbly beseech Thee that they for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still doth detain them in the flesh or the world to come hath already received them stripped of their mortal bodies, may, by the grace of Thy fatherly love and through the intercession of all the saints, obtain the remission of all their sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Happy Halloween!

I'm not a big fan of Halloween.  Never have been really.  Okay, maybe when I was a kid.  But even when I was raising Jeff, I didn't look forward to Halloween.

I'll never forget a conversation Jeff and I had when he was only about four or five.  We were walking through Wal-Mart and Jeff was admiring all the candy and costumes when he announced, "Halloween is my favorite holiday."

I immediately replied, "Halloween is NOT a holiday; it's a strange tradition."  At least two other moms within hearing distance snickered.

Fitness Challenge Week 2

WEEKLY POINTS
First of all, there are weekly points we can earn. This is a first for me, so I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the points. But they accumulate week to week and apparently we should accumulate as many as possible. This is how we accumulate points and these will remain constant from week to week.

1. Post a positive comment about yourself once a week. (2 pts/wk)  CHECK 2/2
2. Stay below 2,500 mg of sodium each day. (1 pt/day...5 pts/wk)  CHECK 4/5
3. Drink 64 oz each day. BONUS POINT for an additional 8 oz each day. (2 pts/day...10 pts/wk)  CHECK 8/10
4. Every 30 consecutive minutes of working out scores a point, up to 60 minutes. (2 pts/day...10 pts/wk)  CHECK 9/10
5. Complete the weekly Challenge. (3 pts/wk)  CHECK 3/3
6. Every 25 full sit-ups scores a point, up to 75 sit-ups. (3 pts/day...15 pts/wk)  CHECK 13/15
7. Finishing the week with the highest percentage of weight-loss earns 3 pts AND gets everyone else on your team 1 pt.  CHECK 1/3
8. Being the team with the highest percentage of weight-loss earns another 2 pts.  CHECK 2/2

TOTAL:  42/50

WEEK 1 RESULTS

1. Workout for at least 30 minutes, at least 4 days of the week. No individual calorie goal this week. But the Wolverines need to burn a total of 15,000 calories. We have 10 people on our team, so that's 1,500 calories each in five days...or about 300 per day. These workouts will also count for #4 in the Weekly Points above.  CHECK 5/5 for 2152 cals
2. Complete 300 reps of anything that can be counted in reps, but they must be in sets of 25. This could be leg lifts, bicep curls, push-ups, jumping jacks, etc. Anything that can be counted. And this week, I get to choose which one I do! Individual goal is 300; the Wolverines must do 5,000 reps. With a team of 10, that's an average of 500 reps. Sit-ups completed here will NOT count towards #6 in the Weekly Points above.  CHECK 725 reps
3. Choose a Hard Rep (HR) and determine the number you can do currently...and do it. I chose push-ups. My arms are weak; my shoulders are weaker. As horrible as it sounds, I can only do 3 from my knees before collapsing to the floor. So I must complete 3 push-ups from my knees at least 4 days this week.  CHECK 5/5
4. Give up something food-wise that I know is bad for me. This one was easy for me to choose. I'm giving up McDonald's sweet tea. I grab one of these on the way to work almost every day. That's 280 calories each. I'll save over 1,000 calories a week by dropping this bad habit!  CHECK 5/5

I lost 4.2 lbs this week!  Water weight, I'm sure.  But still good!

WEEK 2 CHALLENGE
I'm supposed to stay off my feet as much as possible for the next two weeks.  And I'm seeing a podiatrist on Wednesday for my heel spurs.  That could be a challenge...for this Challenge.  Here's how Week 2 looks.

1. Workout for at least 4 days of the week, with each workout being one of the following: 30/60/90/120 minutes long.  The 120 minute workout can be split up into two workouts, but must be done within the same 24 hour day.  Individual calorie goal this week is 1300.  Team calorie goal is 17,600 calories. We have 11 people on our team now, so that's 1,600 calories each in five days.  These workouts will also count for #4 in the Weekly Points above.
2. Complete at least 400 reps with at least 100 each of Upper Body (UB), Lower Body (LB), Core, and Cardio...and they must be in sets of 25.   Team goal is 7,700 reps. With a team of 11, that's an average of 700 reps. Sit-ups completed here will NOT count towards #6 in the Weekly Points above.
3. Do 2 sets of my Hard Rep (HR) at least 3 days this week.  They can be split up into two shifts.  That means doing 3 push-ups from my knees TWICE in one day.  I hate push-ups.  I'm such a wimp!
4. No impulse eating of candy or baked goods.  AND stay under your sugar allocation at least 4 days this week.  Bonus of 2 points for staying under all 5 days.

Feel free to join me! You don't have to report your results anywhere. You don't have to officially join anything. Just print out this page and check things off as you complete them. We can get in shape together!

Song List

I sang at mass last night.  I wasn't supposed to, but the scheduled cantor was going to be out of town.  So, I got the call to sub about 24 hours before game time.  I was planning to attend that mass anyway.

I chatted with the organist a little and we decided that I'd choose the music.  This is what I came up with.

Opening:   #885, All Are Welcome

First Reading:   Jeremiah 31:7-9 (The prophet celebrates the end of the Babylonian Exile. God will bring the people back “from the ends of the world” because “I am a father to Israel.”)

Psalm:   sung, Psalm 126:1-6 (This communal lament recalls God’s mighty deeds of the past, especially the restoration of the people from the Exile, and it calls on God to act once more on behalf of the nation in the current crisis.)

Second Reading:   Hebrews 5:1-6 (Continuing to reflect on the image of the high priest in the Temple as a way to interpret Jesus’ mission, the author of Hebrews points out that high priests did not choose themselves; they were called by God. Jesus was called the same way.)

Alleluia:   sung

Gospel:   Mark 10:46-52 (Bartimaeus calls out for help with the persistence of faith. It is this persistent faith that brings him healing and leads him to discipleship: “Immediately he received his sight and followed [Jesus] on the way.”)

Offertory:   #933, How Great Thou Art

Holy, Holy:   #317, People's Mass
Memorial Acclamation:   #319 B, People's Mass
Amen:   #321, People's Mass
Our Father:   Traditional
Lamb of God:   #322, People's Mass

Communion:   #653, Receive in Your Heart; #685, Amazing Grace

Closing:   #956, Now Thank We All Our God

Seven Word Status

Picture from the Loogootee Tribune site, from Regional weekend

The Loogootee Lady Lions win volleyball semi-state.

Christmas Toy Store Sponsored by Area Christian Churches

[copied from the Martin County Journal]

The Christmas Toy Store will be held on Saturday December 8, 2012 in the fellowship hall of the Loogootee United Methodist Church, 208 West Main Street, in Loogootee. Again this year the event will be a truly community Christian event because it is being co-sponsored by the four Martin County Catholic Churches, the Loogootee United Methodist Church, the Hindostan United Methodist Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church of Loogootee, and the Shoals United Methodist Church. If any other Martin County churches are interested in participating, please contact Curt Johnson at 295-4985.

The Christmas Toy Store is full of all kinds of toys donated by parishioners and church members, local businesses and the Crane Navy “Toys for Tots” program. Last year two free toys were given away to around 646 children. There were also bicycles and lots of “stocking stuffers” that were given away. Eligible shoppers and children – Parents and legal guardians ONLY (changed this year), who reside in Martin County, are eligible to shop for eligible children. Children are eligible for toys if they are 18 years old or younger on December 25, 2012 and a resident of Martin County.

Sign-up locations and dates – Sign-ups are from October 31 to November 30, 2012 at the following four locations. Do not sign-up more than once.

-St. Vincent De Paul Store, 516 Park Street in Loogootee

-Hoosier Uplands, Main and 2nd Street in Shoals

-Loogootee Library

-Shoals Library

Shopping times for the parents or legal guardians are from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Shopping times will be assigned as 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00 a.m., etc until the last shopping time at 2:30 p.m. People will select an available shopping time when they signup.

Diagnosis

I finally went to see the doctor about my left foot pain.  I've had plantar fasciitis pain in the past, associated with weight gain and working out.  But in the last couple of months, the pain has been worse in my left foot.  Always before, there were stretches and things I could do to lessen the pain.  But not so much lately.

Well, I found out today that I have heel spurs.  In fact, the nurse practitioner could feel one of them without even doing an x-ray.  The one on the back of my heel is fairly pronounced.  But I have one on the bottom of my heel as well.

This is an x-ray of a normal foot.

See how the outer edge of the bone at the heel is mostly smooth?  That's a good thing.

 

This is an x-ray of a foot with multiple heel spurs.

See how there are hooks pointing toward the front and the back of the heel?  This is fairly close to what mine looked like...only my front spur (the one pointing towards my toes) was the smaller of the two...and both of my spurs were as pronounced as the larger one in this picture.

The doctor asked me if it hurt just to stand.  [lol]  I admitted that I felt pretty okay standing...as long as I didn't have to stand for hours at a time.  At any rate, I'm supposed to stay off my foot as much as possible for the next two weeks.  And I have to do a few foot exercises every day.  AND I have to go see a podiatrist on Halloween to see if they need to put a shot in my heel!

Fitness Challenge Week 1

THE CHALLENGE
I'm doing another fitness challenge on myfitnesspal.com.  I did pretty well with the last one I did.  And I really enjoyed it. ...and I really need a kick in the pants.  So, I'm taking advantage of another Elimination Challenge to get back on track.

We call it an Elimination Challenge because we can be eliminated for not doing everything assigned for the week.  And worse, if everyone in the challenge completes everything assigned for the week, someone will still be eliminated, either for the lowest percentage of weight-loss or for the least amount of effort.

Personally, I don't care if I'm eliminated or not.  I intend to stick with the Challenge anyway...ALL 11 WEEKS.  So I'm calling it a Fitness Challenge.  I started yesterday, Sunday, the 21st.  Each Challenge week goes from Sunday to Thursday.  The 11th week will be the week of December 30th.  So, it goes right through a couple of major holidays...AND my birthday!

WEEKLY POINTS
First of all, there are weekly points we can earn.  This is a first for me, so I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the points.  But they accumulate week to week and apparently we should accumulate as many as possible.  This is how we accumulate points and these will remain constant from week to week.

1. Post a positive comment about yourself once a week.  (2 pts/wk)
2. Stay below 2,500 mg of sodium each day.  (1 pt/day...5 pts/wk)
3. Drink 64 oz each day.  BONUS POINT for an additional 8 oz each day.  (2 pts/day...10 pts/wk)
4. Every 30 consecutive minutes of working out scores a point, up to 60 minutes.  (2 pts/day...10 pts/wk)
5. Complete the weekly Challenge.  (3 pts/wk)
6. Every 25 full sit-ups scores a point, up to 75 sit-ups.  (3 pts/day...15 pts/wk)
7. Finishing the week with the highest percentage of weight-loss earns 3 pts AND gets everyone else on your team 1 pt.
8. Being the team with the highest percentage of weight-loss earns another 2 pts.

WEEK 1 CHALLENGE
Second of all, we will get a new set of tasks to accomplish to compete with each other.  Right now, we're on teams.  I'm on the Wolverines again.  But eventually, the teams will be so small, they won't matter anymore and it'll be every man/woman for themselves.  But right now, we want to meet the Challenge individually, but also as a team.  Here's how Week 1 looks.

1. Workout for at least 30 minutes, at least 4 days of the week.  No individual calorie goal this week.  But the Wolverines need to burn a total of 15,000 calories.  We have 10 people on our team, so that's 1,500 calories each in five days...or about 300 per day.  These workouts will also count for #4 in the Weekly Points above.
2. Complete 300 reps of anything that can be counted in reps, but they must be in sets of 25.  This could be leg lifts, bicep curls, push-ups, jumping jacks, etc.  Anything that can be counted.  And this week, I get to choose which one I do!  Individual goal is 300; the Wolverines must do 5,000 reps. With a team of 10, that's an average of 500 reps.  Sit-ups completed here will NOT count towards #6 in the Weekly Points above.
3. Choose a Hard Rep (HR) and determine the number you can do currently...and do it.  I chose push-ups.  My arms are weak; my shoulders are weaker.  As horrible as it sounds, I can only do 3 from my knees before collapsing to the floor.  So I must complete 3 push-ups from my knees at least 4 days this week.
4. Give up something food-wise that I know is bad for me.  This one was easy for me to choose.  I'm giving up McDonald's sweet tea.  I grab one of these on the way to work almost every day.  That's 280 calories each.  I'll save over 1,000 calories a week by dropping this bad habit!

MY PLAN

1. Positive comment each week.  I've already written all 11 of them. (2 pts)
2. Watch my sodium. (5 pts)
3. Drink 72 oz of water each day. (10 pts)
4. Workout 60+ minutes each day by doing at least one of the following:  5k(2-3x each week), Les Mills Pump (weights), or Rockin' Body (dancing/aerobics). (10 pts)
5. 75 sit-ups each day. (15 pts)
6. 100 reps each day (upper body, lower body, core, and/or cardio).
7. 3 push-ups from my knees each day.
8. NO McDonald's sweet tea!

Feel free to join me!  You don't have to report your results anywhere.  You don't have to officially join anything.  Just print out this page and check things off as you complete them.  We can get in shape together!

Hebrews 4:14-16

[from the second reading at mass this weekend]

Seven Word Status

The Loogootee Lady Lions win Volleyball Sectional!

Pray for Religious Freedom!

Saint Thomas More, patron saint for religious freedom

O God our Creator,

from Your provident hand we have received

our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

You have called us as Your people and given us

the right and the duty to worship You, the only true God,

and Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the power and working of Your Holy Spirit,

You call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,

bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel

to every corner of society.

We ask You to bless us

in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.

Give us the strength of mind and heart

to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;

give us courage in making our voices heard

on behalf of the rights of Your Church

and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,

a clear and united voice to all Your sons and daughters

gathered in Your Church

in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,

so that, with every trial withstood

and every danger overcome—

for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,

and all who come after us—

this great land will always be “one nation, under God,

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Copyright © 2012, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.