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Recent updates Catie's Story /index.php/component/content/frontpage 2010-09-08T15:51:50Z Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management Welcome to Catie's Story 2008-09-05T05:10:47Z 2008-09-05T05:10:47Z /index.php/component/content/article/73-welcome-to-caties-story <p>Mary Catherine O'Brien (Catie) was born on April 23, 2001 and was first diagnosed with a spinal tumor on June 17, 2008.</p> <p>Catie had surgery to remove a 6cm tumor on June 19, 2008. The tumor was an extremely rare form of cancer called an ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rabdoid Tumor).</p> <p>Catie was treated with radiation to the entire brain-spinal column and aggressive chemotherapy and stem-cell recovery at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  Treatment was suspended on November 25th as the tumor had not responded.  Catie remained at St. Jude until the second week of December and was then reunited with her four sisters, Maggie (10), Mia (6), Molly (4) and M.E. (2), and her brother, Max (9) at home in Mechanicsburg, PA.</p> <p>Catie's parents, Christine and Kevin offer this on-going story as a prayer not only for Catie, but for all those who join her on this journey of faith and triumph.</p> <p>Catie was called home to eternal life on January 25th, 2009.  She will always be a part of our lives.</p> <p>Catie's journey continues on in her Legacy wish.  Catie desired to have us raise enough funds each year to cover the entire operating expenses of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on her birthday April 23rd.  This year on what would have been her 8th birthday, we were able to fulfill and exceed that wish for the first time.  Please join with us in prayer that our efforts will make her Legacy an on-going reality.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Mary Catherine O'Brien (Catie) was born on April 23, 2001 and was first diagnosed with a spinal tumor on June 17, 2008.</p> <p>Catie had surgery to remove a 6cm tumor on June 19, 2008. The tumor was an extremely rare form of cancer called an ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rabdoid Tumor).</p> <p>Catie was treated with radiation to the entire brain-spinal column and aggressive chemotherapy and stem-cell recovery at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  Treatment was suspended on November 25th as the tumor had not responded.  Catie remained at St. Jude until the second week of December and was then reunited with her four sisters, Maggie (10), Mia (6), Molly (4) and M.E. (2), and her brother, Max (9) at home in Mechanicsburg, PA.</p> <p>Catie's parents, Christine and Kevin offer this on-going story as a prayer not only for Catie, but for all those who join her on this journey of faith and triumph.</p> <p>Catie was called home to eternal life on January 25th, 2009.  She will always be a part of our lives.</p> <p>Catie's journey continues on in her Legacy wish.  Catie desired to have us raise enough funds each year to cover the entire operating expenses of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on her birthday April 23rd.  This year on what would have been her 8th birthday, we were able to fulfill and exceed that wish for the first time.  Please join with us in prayer that our efforts will make her Legacy an on-going reality.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> Snowstorms 2010-02-17T09:22:56Z 2010-02-17T09:22:56Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/208-snowstorms <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good evening Catie Team,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for continuing to journey with us.  Tonight we offer a prayer for all of you who follow Catie’s Story and Catie’s Wish.  We have had a busy few days as I am sure most of you have had as well.  Snow has impacted many of us and offers the first lesson to me tonight about perspective.  Children love snow, and love snow days off from school even more.  Parents have a different take.  Stocking up on milk, eggs, and bread and dealing with everyone else doing the same.  Clearing the snow once it falls and then clearing it again after the plow closes off your driveway.  Juggling work schedules to take care of the kids that are having a snow day.  Same snow, different perspectives, different reactions.  Whenever I start to feel the weight of life, focusing on my own perception and my reactions to life usually allows me to sort out the really important and put my focus where it belongs.  <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Things are starting to really ramp up as we inch closer to April 23<sup>rd</sup> and what would have been Catie’s 9<sup>th</sup> birthday.  In a very small way, Catie has been letting all of us know that she is still with us as we go through our everyday lives.  In the midst of all of the winter weather, sunsets have been spectacular lately.  I do not remember sunsets being a wintertime phenomenon, but I have certainly experienced a number of beautiful ones so far this year.  I am sure that they have always been there, but again, perspective changes what we see.  The other interesting manifestation of Catie’s presence has been ladybugs.  Again, in the middle of winter, I am not used to seeing ladybugs, but they make a daily appearance and Molly and M.E. in all of their innocence chase them around and yell to everyone in the house that Catie is here.  And yet despite her constant spiritual and potentially insect presence, Catie is not physically here and that still causes pain.  We read about and talk to parents whose children are still in treatment or are currently cancer-free and we vicariously walk those journeys and wonder what life would be like right now if Catie’s treatment had beaten the tumor.  If Catie were still with us, she would most likely have partial blindness and partial hearing loss necessitating hearing aids.  The nerve damage to her spinal column might still have her walking with a walker.  The intense radiation to her brain would almost certainly be making school and learning challenging and frustrating.  The growth of her body and her hair may have been stunted leaving her permanently bald and 4 foot tall.  The list goes on.  There are days when we are sure that if given the choice of a Catie here with us, as diminished in her Catieness as she might be would be worth it, just to have her here.  Other days, as we ponder the thought of a lifetime of obstacles, roadblocks, and the prospect of the next check-up and hearing the words that the cancer is back, we believe that Catie’s absence has spared us and her so much.  Again, perspective.  Solace and peace comes from the sure knowledge that we in our humanity cannot possibly make such choices, only God in His infinite wisdom can.  Our part is to accept and go on, believing in God and His promises and knowing that everyday holds the possibility of a miracle.  We need to do our part and pray!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today, both Christine and I had the opportunity to talk about Catie and her Wish to a new and ever increasing audience.  I was on the radio with a station in Pittsburgh, and Christine was at the Dillsburg Elementary School where they were having a Dress-Up Day to honor Catie and support Catie’s Wish.  By all accounts, the day was a tremendous success as more people now know about Catie, know about St. Jude, know about the kids who battle pediatric cancer every day.  At the end of the day, more people will have done what Catie always wanted them to do.  Go home, hug your spouse and kids, thank God that they are healthy, pray for the ones who aren’t, and if you are able, support the cause to eradicate pediatric cancer so that the next kid never has to follow Catie’s journey.  In the midst of the joy, Christine melted into my arms and we both cried because at that moment, we would have traded it all for one more day with Catie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">The new website is very close to launch, and it is nothing short of spectacular.  We can’t wait for you to see it and share it because you all helped to create it.  The weight of fulfilling Catie’s legacy and honoring her by starting the Catie’s Wish Foundation is at times too burdensome to carry.  It has caused Christine and me to strain our relationship.  It caused Maggie to wonder how something as positive as Catie’s Wish could cause such grief.  It has even brought us to the point where we wanted to walk away and give-up.  Somewhere out there, your prayers give us the patience to persevere.  Your blessings allow us to see God’s blessings in the midst of the challenges.  You, like Catie, allow us to see the ladybugs and sunsets in our lives.  Thank you for your prayers, please keep them coming.  Please keep letting us know about your difficulties and let Catie know about them as well.  She sits in God’s lap and whispers in His ear the hopes, prayers and desires of those that love her.  If I cannot have her in my arms, I am so glad she is in His.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">May the peace of God dwell in your hearts and homes,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">PS As we are preparing the new website -which will serve as our primary vehicle for spreading Catie's Wish - we have created a prayer list in the form of a database of all the kids that we are following.  These are the children who have been named in our past post scripts since this summer.  Today there are 92.  Fourteen have gone on to join Catie in heaven.  Fifteen are children that Catie knew at St. Jude.  53 are still in active treatment.  26 children are in remission and are home.  9 have relapsed and are once again in treatment.  4 are praying for their miracle.  Please join us as we prepare for Easter through this Lenten season to pray for these children and those that love them and care for them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> God is good, all the time<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good evening Catie Team,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for continuing to journey with us.  Tonight we offer a prayer for all of you who follow Catie’s Story and Catie’s Wish.  We have had a busy few days as I am sure most of you have had as well.  Snow has impacted many of us and offers the first lesson to me tonight about perspective.  Children love snow, and love snow days off from school even more.  Parents have a different take.  Stocking up on milk, eggs, and bread and dealing with everyone else doing the same.  Clearing the snow once it falls and then clearing it again after the plow closes off your driveway.  Juggling work schedules to take care of the kids that are having a snow day.  Same snow, different perspectives, different reactions.  Whenever I start to feel the weight of life, focusing on my own perception and my reactions to life usually allows me to sort out the really important and put my focus where it belongs.  <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Things are starting to really ramp up as we inch closer to April 23<sup>rd</sup> and what would have been Catie’s 9<sup>th</sup> birthday.  In a very small way, Catie has been letting all of us know that she is still with us as we go through our everyday lives.  In the midst of all of the winter weather, sunsets have been spectacular lately.  I do not remember sunsets being a wintertime phenomenon, but I have certainly experienced a number of beautiful ones so far this year.  I am sure that they have always been there, but again, perspective changes what we see.  The other interesting manifestation of Catie’s presence has been ladybugs.  Again, in the middle of winter, I am not used to seeing ladybugs, but they make a daily appearance and Molly and M.E. in all of their innocence chase them around and yell to everyone in the house that Catie is here.  And yet despite her constant spiritual and potentially insect presence, Catie is not physically here and that still causes pain.  We read about and talk to parents whose children are still in treatment or are currently cancer-free and we vicariously walk those journeys and wonder what life would be like right now if Catie’s treatment had beaten the tumor.  If Catie were still with us, she would most likely have partial blindness and partial hearing loss necessitating hearing aids.  The nerve damage to her spinal column might still have her walking with a walker.  The intense radiation to her brain would almost certainly be making school and learning challenging and frustrating.  The growth of her body and her hair may have been stunted leaving her permanently bald and 4 foot tall.  The list goes on.  There are days when we are sure that if given the choice of a Catie here with us, as diminished in her Catieness as she might be would be worth it, just to have her here.  Other days, as we ponder the thought of a lifetime of obstacles, roadblocks, and the prospect of the next check-up and hearing the words that the cancer is back, we believe that Catie’s absence has spared us and her so much.  Again, perspective.  Solace and peace comes from the sure knowledge that we in our humanity cannot possibly make such choices, only God in His infinite wisdom can.  Our part is to accept and go on, believing in God and His promises and knowing that everyday holds the possibility of a miracle.  We need to do our part and pray!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today, both Christine and I had the opportunity to talk about Catie and her Wish to a new and ever increasing audience.  I was on the radio with a station in Pittsburgh, and Christine was at the Dillsburg Elementary School where they were having a Dress-Up Day to honor Catie and support Catie’s Wish.  By all accounts, the day was a tremendous success as more people now know about Catie, know about St. Jude, know about the kids who battle pediatric cancer every day.  At the end of the day, more people will have done what Catie always wanted them to do.  Go home, hug your spouse and kids, thank God that they are healthy, pray for the ones who aren’t, and if you are able, support the cause to eradicate pediatric cancer so that the next kid never has to follow Catie’s journey.  In the midst of the joy, Christine melted into my arms and we both cried because at that moment, we would have traded it all for one more day with Catie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">The new website is very close to launch, and it is nothing short of spectacular.  We can’t wait for you to see it and share it because you all helped to create it.  The weight of fulfilling Catie’s legacy and honoring her by starting the Catie’s Wish Foundation is at times too burdensome to carry.  It has caused Christine and me to strain our relationship.  It caused Maggie to wonder how something as positive as Catie’s Wish could cause such grief.  It has even brought us to the point where we wanted to walk away and give-up.  Somewhere out there, your prayers give us the patience to persevere.  Your blessings allow us to see God’s blessings in the midst of the challenges.  You, like Catie, allow us to see the ladybugs and sunsets in our lives.  Thank you for your prayers, please keep them coming.  Please keep letting us know about your difficulties and let Catie know about them as well.  She sits in God’s lap and whispers in His ear the hopes, prayers and desires of those that love her.  If I cannot have her in my arms, I am so glad she is in His.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">May the peace of God dwell in your hearts and homes,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">PS As we are preparing the new website -which will serve as our primary vehicle for spreading Catie's Wish - we have created a prayer list in the form of a database of all the kids that we are following.  These are the children who have been named in our past post scripts since this summer.  Today there are 92.  Fourteen have gone on to join Catie in heaven.  Fifteen are children that Catie knew at St. Jude.  53 are still in active treatment.  26 children are in remission and are home.  9 have relapsed and are once again in treatment.  4 are praying for their miracle.  Please join us as we prepare for Easter through this Lenten season to pray for these children and those that love them and care for them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> God is good, all the time<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> St. Patrick's Day Weekend Celebrations 2010-02-09T23:14:07Z 2010-02-09T23:14:07Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/206-st-patricks-day-weekend-celebrations <div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 20pt; background-image: url(images/stories/catie/3577649810_5d6530e2c6_o.jpg); width: 100%; background-repeat: repeat-y;"> <div style="margin: 10px auto; padding: 10px; background-color: #ffffff; width: 400px;"> <h2 style="color: green;">Second Annual St. Patty's Day Party</h2> <p>Host: Michael and Susan Pascarella</p> <p>Location: PJ Whelihan's Pub, 799 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422 US</p> <p>When: Saturday, March 13, 1:00PM to 5:00PM</p> <p>Phone: 610-715-9922</p> <p>Please come to our 2nd Annual St. Patty's Day Party to benefit the Catie's Wish Foundation. All proceeds go to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Please help us make our annual goal of giving St. Jude $1.4 million on April 23rd on what would have been Catie's 9th birthday.</p> <p>Tickets are $25 for adults, and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at PJ's beginning February 21st, or at the door on the day of the event. Admission includes food, non-alcoholic beverages, an Irish band, Irish dancers, activities, and raffle prizes.<br /><br />To RSVP, please call us at 610-715-9922 or email to <a href="mailto:kevin.catieswish@yahoo.com">kevin.catieswish@yahoo.com</a> We look forward to seeing you there.</p> <p>If you would like to pre-order a green Catie's Wish t-shirt, please send an email to <a href="mailto:christine.catieswish@yahoo.com">christine.catieswish@yahoo.com</a> by February 21st.</p> </div> <div style="margin: 10px auto; padding: 10px; background-color: #ffffff; width: 400px;"> <h2 style="color: green;">St. Patrick's Day Weekend Mass</h2> <p>On Sunday morning, March 14, The O’Brien family and members and friends of the Catie’s Wish Foundation will attend the 9:30 am Mass at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, Walton Road and Township Line Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA.</p> <p>All are welcome to join us.</p> <p>The Catie’s Wish Foundation will be recognized at that Mass, and we are asking everyone to wear something purple to show their support. I am so very happy to inform that the main celebrant and homilist at this Mass will be Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.</p> <p>Following Mass, we will be heading to Coleman’s Restaurant at the Normandy Farms Hotel in Blue Bell, for brunch. We will set up a reservation plan if you are interested in going. We do not plan on selling advanced tickets, but just get a head count, and then you can pay individually at the restaurant.</p> </div> <div style="margin: 10px auto; padding: 10px; background-color: #ffffff; width: 400px;"> <h2 style="color: green;">St. Patrick's Day Weekend Adoration</h2> <p>Sunday evening at St. Titus Parish, 3006 Keenwood Road, East Norriton, PA, all of you are invited to join the Catie's Wish Foundation at the regularly scheduled Youth for the Eucharist event, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. This is Eucharistic adoration along with worship and praise music provided by our own, Bethany Music Ministry. <!--EndFragment--></p> </div> </div> <p>Background photo credit: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/roens/3577649810/">"clover and little white flowers" by roens on Flickr</a></p> <div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 20pt; background-image: url(images/stories/catie/3577649810_5d6530e2c6_o.jpg); width: 100%; background-repeat: repeat-y;"> <div style="margin: 10px auto; padding: 10px; background-color: #ffffff; width: 400px;"> <h2 style="color: green;">Second Annual St. Patty's Day Party</h2> <p>Host: Michael and Susan Pascarella</p> <p>Location: PJ Whelihan's Pub, 799 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422 US</p> <p>When: Saturday, March 13, 1:00PM to 5:00PM</p> <p>Phone: 610-715-9922</p> <p>Please come to our 2nd Annual St. Patty's Day Party to benefit the Catie's Wish Foundation. All proceeds go to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Please help us make our annual goal of giving St. Jude $1.4 million on April 23rd on what would have been Catie's 9th birthday.</p> <p>Tickets are $25 for adults, and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at PJ's beginning February 21st, or at the door on the day of the event. Admission includes food, non-alcoholic beverages, an Irish band, Irish dancers, activities, and raffle prizes.<br /><br />To RSVP, please call us at 610-715-9922 or email to <a href="mailto:kevin.catieswish@yahoo.com">kevin.catieswish@yahoo.com</a> We look forward to seeing you there.</p> <p>If you would like to pre-order a green Catie's Wish t-shirt, please send an email to <a href="mailto:christine.catieswish@yahoo.com">christine.catieswish@yahoo.com</a> by February 21st.</p> </div> <div style="margin: 10px auto; padding: 10px; background-color: #ffffff; width: 400px;"> <h2 style="color: green;">St. Patrick's Day Weekend Mass</h2> <p>On Sunday morning, March 14, The O’Brien family and members and friends of the Catie’s Wish Foundation will attend the 9:30 am Mass at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, Walton Road and Township Line Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA.</p> <p>All are welcome to join us.</p> <p>The Catie’s Wish Foundation will be recognized at that Mass, and we are asking everyone to wear something purple to show their support. I am so very happy to inform that the main celebrant and homilist at this Mass will be Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.</p> <p>Following Mass, we will be heading to Coleman’s Restaurant at the Normandy Farms Hotel in Blue Bell, for brunch. We will set up a reservation plan if you are interested in going. We do not plan on selling advanced tickets, but just get a head count, and then you can pay individually at the restaurant.</p> </div> <div style="margin: 10px auto; padding: 10px; background-color: #ffffff; width: 400px;"> <h2 style="color: green;">St. Patrick's Day Weekend Adoration</h2> <p>Sunday evening at St. Titus Parish, 3006 Keenwood Road, East Norriton, PA, all of you are invited to join the Catie's Wish Foundation at the regularly scheduled Youth for the Eucharist event, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. This is Eucharistic adoration along with worship and praise music provided by our own, Bethany Music Ministry. <!--EndFragment--></p> </div> </div> <p>Background photo credit: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/roens/3577649810/">"clover and little white flowers" by roens on Flickr</a></p> A Sign 2010-01-27T06:38:34Z 2010-01-27T06:38:34Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/205-a-sign <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We have had a spiritually rich year and a humanly difficult year.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Our memories of our visit to Lourdes will remain a highlight of our lives.  One of the things holding a crystal clear memory was the weather.  It was glorious and sunny each day that we were there but extremely cold.  Knowing the story of Saint Bernadette and the Grotto the weather was most fitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>As it was winter when Bernadette herself was led by Our Blessed Mother to uncover the miraculous spring contained at Lourdes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The night after the Baths we were going to walk in Procession to Mary - as she has requested.  As we returned from the Baths we gathered the children together to speak of the experience.  They remained hope filled that Catie’s healing would still be granted miraculously and still they each in their own way continued to pray.  Catie cried and as we began to cry the rain began to fall.  That night we processed in pouring rain - as though heaven was weeping for the pain along with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Yesterday as we prepared to celebrate the first anniversary of Catie’ eternal life the rain began.  We attended Mass for Catie and the rain poured and Mechanicsburg temporarily flooded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Thus reminding us all of Lourdes and of heaven weeping for us and pouring cleansing waters upon us to renew us.  The day ended with bright and beautiful sunshine and another glorious sunset.  As though Catie herself was joining heaven and telling us the time for tears was over for now and to find strength in one another.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This morning my body was numb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The sadness that was experienced yesterday was weighing on me physically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Any excuse would work to keep me from Mass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>M.E. woke up after having slept through the night for the first time in five nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Her first words were “are we late for church?” and off we went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Still feeling numb and yet knowing how much comfort prayer has brought me throughout this entire journey my prayers began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Never having left a Mass disappointed or unfed by Our Lord; today was no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The Gospel was Luke 10:1-9 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Do not move about from one house to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.” Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day then for that town.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It was a sign that we are headed in the right direction; that we are doing all that we should be doing to honor Catie’s memory, love and serve the Lord and be there for one another both as a family and as members of the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Realizing that many of us search for meaning and signs that we are going in the right direction – just think about traveling to a new place whether you use a map or GPS, there are moments when you search for a clue or sign along the way that you are headed in the right direction – when do you really know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When you arrive at your destination on time is when you really know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What happens if the only place you really are interested in going is heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">You search for signs in the prayer and in the readings and for me often the question arises “Am I doing what God wants me to do with my life?” for if I am that is a good sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Each day treating others with compassion, honesty, kindness and understanding is loving and serving the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>God asks all of us to follow Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Then Jesus breaks it all down into two great Commandments: love your God with all of your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Each day one simple way to say thank you Lord for the gift of this day is by doing your best to know and love your neighbor. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Since Catie’s illness pediatric cancer awareness has become our neighbor along with all the children who come to us each morning telling us their stories on CaringBridge and asking for our prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>These children and their struggles with pediatric cancer have been brought into our lives like the Haitian earthquake has been brought into yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There are many in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There will be many more in need tomorrow if we don’t do all we can today to help them – through prayer and through efforts to raise this year’s $1.4 million we can make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We still have a ways to go in the next three months. Please continue to pray for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We humbly thank you for joining us and ask that you continue journeying with us all the way to a cure.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">God is good all the time,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Kevin, Christine, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E. and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">PS Please pray for all those who have asked for our prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The complete list is now being compiled for the new website.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We have had a spiritually rich year and a humanly difficult year.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Our memories of our visit to Lourdes will remain a highlight of our lives.  One of the things holding a crystal clear memory was the weather.  It was glorious and sunny each day that we were there but extremely cold.  Knowing the story of Saint Bernadette and the Grotto the weather was most fitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>As it was winter when Bernadette herself was led by Our Blessed Mother to uncover the miraculous spring contained at Lourdes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The night after the Baths we were going to walk in Procession to Mary - as she has requested.  As we returned from the Baths we gathered the children together to speak of the experience.  They remained hope filled that Catie’s healing would still be granted miraculously and still they each in their own way continued to pray.  Catie cried and as we began to cry the rain began to fall.  That night we processed in pouring rain - as though heaven was weeping for the pain along with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Yesterday as we prepared to celebrate the first anniversary of Catie’ eternal life the rain began.  We attended Mass for Catie and the rain poured and Mechanicsburg temporarily flooded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Thus reminding us all of Lourdes and of heaven weeping for us and pouring cleansing waters upon us to renew us.  The day ended with bright and beautiful sunshine and another glorious sunset.  As though Catie herself was joining heaven and telling us the time for tears was over for now and to find strength in one another.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This morning my body was numb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The sadness that was experienced yesterday was weighing on me physically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Any excuse would work to keep me from Mass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>M.E. woke up after having slept through the night for the first time in five nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Her first words were “are we late for church?” and off we went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Still feeling numb and yet knowing how much comfort prayer has brought me throughout this entire journey my prayers began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Never having left a Mass disappointed or unfed by Our Lord; today was no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The Gospel was Luke 10:1-9 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Do not move about from one house to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.” Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day then for that town.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It was a sign that we are headed in the right direction; that we are doing all that we should be doing to honor Catie’s memory, love and serve the Lord and be there for one another both as a family and as members of the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Realizing that many of us search for meaning and signs that we are going in the right direction – just think about traveling to a new place whether you use a map or GPS, there are moments when you search for a clue or sign along the way that you are headed in the right direction – when do you really know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When you arrive at your destination on time is when you really know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What happens if the only place you really are interested in going is heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">You search for signs in the prayer and in the readings and for me often the question arises “Am I doing what God wants me to do with my life?” for if I am that is a good sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Each day treating others with compassion, honesty, kindness and understanding is loving and serving the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>God asks all of us to follow Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Then Jesus breaks it all down into two great Commandments: love your God with all of your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Each day one simple way to say thank you Lord for the gift of this day is by doing your best to know and love your neighbor. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Since Catie’s illness pediatric cancer awareness has become our neighbor along with all the children who come to us each morning telling us their stories on CaringBridge and asking for our prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>These children and their struggles with pediatric cancer have been brought into our lives like the Haitian earthquake has been brought into yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There are many in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There will be many more in need tomorrow if we don’t do all we can today to help them – through prayer and through efforts to raise this year’s $1.4 million we can make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We still have a ways to go in the next three months. Please continue to pray for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We humbly thank you for joining us and ask that you continue journeying with us all the way to a cure.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">God is good all the time,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Kevin, Christine, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E. and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">PS Please pray for all those who have asked for our prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The complete list is now being compiled for the new website.<o:p></o:p></span></p> A Year Gone By 2010-01-16T02:05:33Z 2010-01-16T02:05:33Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/204-a-year-gone-by <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">We continue to prepare to celebrate our first year without Catie in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It doesn’t even sound right – how can anyone celebrate a year without someone, unless it was someone they didn’t love and want in their lives; but then why celebrate that? The what, how and whys of this celebration only seem to make sense to me when we look at the - WHO we are celebrating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We are celebrating Catie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What are we celebrating?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In a small way, we are celebrating that we have not only survived but in many ways thrived throughout this past year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">There were so many days immediately after Catie’s death that joining her in death seemed like a good idea but not for the right reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>God has a plan for each of our lives and only He decides when it is time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Until He decides our time is up, it is up to us to live our lives to the fullest and for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We each hold our own personal memories of Catie; something we did with just her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Many nights either Mia or Maggie shared a room with Catie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What did they talk about before they went to sleep; they each hold those memories in their hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Catie and Max often played together outside riding their bikes or jumping with their scooters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Each child had one week of their own with Catie down at St. Jude and those are special memories and there are special photos for each of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We remember the little moments with Catie – her birth and the seven birthdays that we were blessed to celebrate, listening to her voice as she sang wherever she was, witnessing Catie learn and teach her younger sisters what she had learned and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>being privileged to hear her prayers for those she loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">With all of these wonderful memories of Catie we miss her and long to be with her but that is only part of Catie’s story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The other part of Catie’s story was the pain and the waiting in the hospital, watching Catie finally sleep again after days and nights of pain, seeing her strength, listening to the change in her prayers as she asked God to heal her and bring her home (we never asked but always assumed that she meant to our home, but will never know) and knowing how much she protected us from because she loved us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In death Catie was healed of all of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Catie can now walk; Catie can now see; what a vision Heaven must be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Catie can sing with all the angels – they better know the words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Almost one year later we know that Catie is with us all still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have felt her presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have heard how so many of your prayers to her have been answered – thank you for sharing them with us and taking them to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Has it been easy? No. Is it over? It isn’t meant to end because Catie has reached Heaven and she lives on with God forever in eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>So where are we?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">As a couple we are reunited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have been renewed and strengthened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Ask either of us and we both would say that we are more in love and love the other more now than we ever thought possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We both have tremendous respect for what the other was able to do to hold their part of our family together during the six months apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have grown spiritually closer to God as a couple and thank Him for the blessing and gift of the other and our marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>That is not to say that we do not fight or continue to grieve – we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We are not perfect yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">As a family was are all back under one roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have been tested and we all realize that this model works best for us – all of us and each of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We spend more time doing things all together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We spend more time hugging and holding each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We spend more time telling each other that we love each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We also spend more time praying for one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We still are not perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The kids still do the crazy things that kids do that drive us crazy as parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We do our best to love them, guide them, forgive them and move on and each day still has its challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Here we are not perfect either but we as a family remain prayerful.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The Fab 5 are well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They all did well in school and that is always a comfort to parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They each have struggled and communicated what they have felt and continue to do so openly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In the past few days both of the younger girls have been playing on their own and with their dolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They discuss cancer, tumors, wheelchairs, death and what happens after death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They each have concluded that while God is there and has a plan – something we are certain they have heard us say – “He keeps it a secret so it must be a REALLY GOOD plan.” The awesome faith of a child!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">We will be attending Mass at St. Columbkill in Boyertown, PA on Sunday, January24th at 10:30am and then we as a family will drive to Calvary Cemetery and visit Catie’s grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The kids want to bring something purple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>So we will be bringing purple flower petals and Holy Water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>On Monday we will be attending Mass for Catie at 9am at St. Joseph’s in Mechanicsburg, PA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There is no book on how to handle this day, no guide, no right or wrong and yet it is a day when in many ways our lives changed forever and our faith and belief in God was tested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What we are celebrating is that this beautiful child was given to us – not just our family – but all of us and after seven short years we witnessed her death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We still long to hold her; to have a physical connection with her and yet it is only through our faith in Christ’s Resurrection that Catie exists outside of our memories.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Today at Mass, Father Brommer spoke about the Ark of the Covenant – what it contained, why it was important and where it was located.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Never knowing what it contained it was an interesting homily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The ARK contained the original Ten Commandments (2 stone tablets), Aaron’s staff and manna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Until Christ came it held the only tangible gifts from the hand of God to His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Now through the life, death and resurrection of Christ we no longer need to hold on to the Ark; as Christ gives us His body and blood every day at every Mass that is celebrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If we hold in our beliefs that Christ conquered death in His Resurrection then through our baptism and life in Christ we too do not die but live on in eternity with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><em><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What then shall we say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound? Of course not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>How can we who died to sin yet live in it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><em><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>For a dead person has been absolved from sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Consequently, you too must think yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.</span></em><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Roman 6: 1-11)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">How can you join us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Join us for either of the Masses or join us in prayer from wherever you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for all those who do not have the support that you provide us with each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for the children that Catie’s wished to take care of; those fighting for their lives at St. Jude and other Children Hospitals around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for the families who have lost a child and are still actively grieving that they may find comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for the doctors, nurses, staff and researchers who sacrifice so much of their lives to care for critically ill children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for yourself and your family that you remain faithful to God and His divine will for your lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God is good all the time,<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">PS - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please continue to pray for all of our dear friends from St. Jude - the doctors, nurses and staff that support the patients and families.  Please pray for all who have asked for our prayers and please add to your prayers Baby Amelia, Baby Coco, Connor, Parker, and Oliver, all who are new to our prayer list and in need of our prayers.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">We continue to prepare to celebrate our first year without Catie in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It doesn’t even sound right – how can anyone celebrate a year without someone, unless it was someone they didn’t love and want in their lives; but then why celebrate that? The what, how and whys of this celebration only seem to make sense to me when we look at the - WHO we are celebrating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We are celebrating Catie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What are we celebrating?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In a small way, we are celebrating that we have not only survived but in many ways thrived throughout this past year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">There were so many days immediately after Catie’s death that joining her in death seemed like a good idea but not for the right reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>God has a plan for each of our lives and only He decides when it is time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Until He decides our time is up, it is up to us to live our lives to the fullest and for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We each hold our own personal memories of Catie; something we did with just her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Many nights either Mia or Maggie shared a room with Catie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What did they talk about before they went to sleep; they each hold those memories in their hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Catie and Max often played together outside riding their bikes or jumping with their scooters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Each child had one week of their own with Catie down at St. Jude and those are special memories and there are special photos for each of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We remember the little moments with Catie – her birth and the seven birthdays that we were blessed to celebrate, listening to her voice as she sang wherever she was, witnessing Catie learn and teach her younger sisters what she had learned and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>being privileged to hear her prayers for those she loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">With all of these wonderful memories of Catie we miss her and long to be with her but that is only part of Catie’s story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The other part of Catie’s story was the pain and the waiting in the hospital, watching Catie finally sleep again after days and nights of pain, seeing her strength, listening to the change in her prayers as she asked God to heal her and bring her home (we never asked but always assumed that she meant to our home, but will never know) and knowing how much she protected us from because she loved us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In death Catie was healed of all of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Catie can now walk; Catie can now see; what a vision Heaven must be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Catie can sing with all the angels – they better know the words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Almost one year later we know that Catie is with us all still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have felt her presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have heard how so many of your prayers to her have been answered – thank you for sharing them with us and taking them to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Has it been easy? No. Is it over? It isn’t meant to end because Catie has reached Heaven and she lives on with God forever in eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>So where are we?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">As a couple we are reunited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have been renewed and strengthened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Ask either of us and we both would say that we are more in love and love the other more now than we ever thought possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We both have tremendous respect for what the other was able to do to hold their part of our family together during the six months apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have grown spiritually closer to God as a couple and thank Him for the blessing and gift of the other and our marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>That is not to say that we do not fight or continue to grieve – we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We are not perfect yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">As a family was are all back under one roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We have been tested and we all realize that this model works best for us – all of us and each of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We spend more time doing things all together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We spend more time hugging and holding each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We spend more time telling each other that we love each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We also spend more time praying for one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We still are not perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The kids still do the crazy things that kids do that drive us crazy as parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We do our best to love them, guide them, forgive them and move on and each day still has its challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Here we are not perfect either but we as a family remain prayerful.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The Fab 5 are well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They all did well in school and that is always a comfort to parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They each have struggled and communicated what they have felt and continue to do so openly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In the past few days both of the younger girls have been playing on their own and with their dolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They discuss cancer, tumors, wheelchairs, death and what happens after death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They each have concluded that while God is there and has a plan – something we are certain they have heard us say – “He keeps it a secret so it must be a REALLY GOOD plan.” The awesome faith of a child!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">We will be attending Mass at St. Columbkill in Boyertown, PA on Sunday, January24th at 10:30am and then we as a family will drive to Calvary Cemetery and visit Catie’s grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The kids want to bring something purple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>So we will be bringing purple flower petals and Holy Water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>On Monday we will be attending Mass for Catie at 9am at St. Joseph’s in Mechanicsburg, PA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>There is no book on how to handle this day, no guide, no right or wrong and yet it is a day when in many ways our lives changed forever and our faith and belief in God was tested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What we are celebrating is that this beautiful child was given to us – not just our family – but all of us and after seven short years we witnessed her death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We still long to hold her; to have a physical connection with her and yet it is only through our faith in Christ’s Resurrection that Catie exists outside of our memories.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Today at Mass, Father Brommer spoke about the Ark of the Covenant – what it contained, why it was important and where it was located.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Never knowing what it contained it was an interesting homily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The ARK contained the original Ten Commandments (2 stone tablets), Aaron’s staff and manna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Until Christ came it held the only tangible gifts from the hand of God to His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Now through the life, death and resurrection of Christ we no longer need to hold on to the Ark; as Christ gives us His body and blood every day at every Mass that is celebrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If we hold in our beliefs that Christ conquered death in His Resurrection then through our baptism and life in Christ we too do not die but live on in eternity with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><em><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What then shall we say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound? Of course not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>How can we who died to sin yet live in it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><em><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>For a dead person has been absolved from sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Consequently, you too must think yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.</span></em><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(Roman 6: 1-11)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">How can you join us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Join us for either of the Masses or join us in prayer from wherever you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for all those who do not have the support that you provide us with each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for the children that Catie’s wished to take care of; those fighting for their lives at St. Jude and other Children Hospitals around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for the families who have lost a child and are still actively grieving that they may find comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for the doctors, nurses, staff and researchers who sacrifice so much of their lives to care for critically ill children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Pray for yourself and your family that you remain faithful to God and His divine will for your lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God is good all the time,<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">PS - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please continue to pray for all of our dear friends from St. Jude - the doctors, nurses and staff that support the patients and families.  Please pray for all who have asked for our prayers and please add to your prayers Baby Amelia, Baby Coco, Connor, Parker, and Oliver, all who are new to our prayer list and in need of our prayers.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></p> Light Shows 2010-01-09T08:13:37Z 2010-01-09T08:13:37Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/203-light-shows <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Just a quick update to let you know that if you are in the area and have not yet seen the area light shows benefiting Catie’s Wish and St. Jude that you still have this weekend to check them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are spectacular!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove around to the Krasleys’ and the Narel’s tonight and are planning on going to visit the Boucher’s tomorrow night, and of course, we started it all with the Duszak’s and their wonderfully inspiring show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a chance to meet the people responsible for the shows at the Krasley’s and Narel’s and spent some time with them thanking them and talking about Catie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is well worth the drive!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The link to the website is <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://duszakfamilylights.com/tour_of_lights.html"><span style="color: #800080;">http://duszakfamilylights.com/tour_of_lights.html</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span>and the directions are on the site.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Here are the addresses for the 4 shows:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Duszak Family Light Show<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">205 east Clearview Drive, Camp Hill, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krasley’s Country Christmas<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">525 Woodland Drive, Manheim, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Narel Family Lights<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">1300 King Arthur Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Boucher Lights<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">35 Dakota Drive, Hanover, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Thank you to each of the families who set up the show and the tour and a special thanks to Ron and Jolene Duszak for the impetus to start the tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a fitting tribute to Catie and to Ron’s mom!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">God is good, all the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E. and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">PS – please pray for the kids still battling and for Mia and her classmates as they receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time Saturday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some really good news, thanks to your prayers, Jack and Mikey received test results from their scans showing great improvements !<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Just a quick update to let you know that if you are in the area and have not yet seen the area light shows benefiting Catie’s Wish and St. Jude that you still have this weekend to check them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are spectacular!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove around to the Krasleys’ and the Narel’s tonight and are planning on going to visit the Boucher’s tomorrow night, and of course, we started it all with the Duszak’s and their wonderfully inspiring show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a chance to meet the people responsible for the shows at the Krasley’s and Narel’s and spent some time with them thanking them and talking about Catie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is well worth the drive!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The link to the website is <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #333399;"><a href="http://duszakfamilylights.com/tour_of_lights.html"><span style="color: #800080;">http://duszakfamilylights.com/tour_of_lights.html</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span>and the directions are on the site.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Here are the addresses for the 4 shows:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Duszak Family Light Show<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">205 east Clearview Drive, Camp Hill, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Krasley’s Country Christmas<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">525 Woodland Drive, Manheim, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Narel Family Lights<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">1300 King Arthur Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Boucher Lights<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">35 Dakota Drive, Hanover, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Thank you to each of the families who set up the show and the tour and a special thanks to Ron and Jolene Duszak for the impetus to start the tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a fitting tribute to Catie and to Ron’s mom!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">God is good, all the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E. and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">PS – please pray for the kids still battling and for Mia and her classmates as they receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time Saturday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some really good news, thanks to your prayers, Jack and Mikey received test results from their scans showing great improvements !<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> Looking Back 2010-01-07T07:23:17Z 2010-01-07T07:23:17Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/202-looking-back <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking Back<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;">Less than one month after Catie’s death we received a note from a follower of Catie’s story.  This note was not added to the public guestbook but rather sent privately to us.  It simply read</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: navy;">,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: navy;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;">spend time with your family and stop wasting your time (it may have said spending your time – but that is not how it felt when we read it) writing updates</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: navy;">”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;">.  It was a note amidst the thousands – it seemed negative and like a slap to move on – and yet it stood out then and does now.  Writing to all of you – just writing in general has allowed us to clarify what is happening; to see not only the real measurable events of each day but also our thoughts and impressions.  You the reader share our journey.  It is our hope that this sharing will lead you all to pray – for us, for yourselves and for those we ask you to pray for in the P.S.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">Each morning when the computer is turned on the updates are waiting – when you are following the stories of pediatric cancer you always have mail.  Some of these stories tell of the child’s appointments, schedule, status and progress towards CANCER FREE or END OF TREATMENT.  How Catie loved the St. Jude song “You don’t need chemo any more”!  Even though Catie knew she was dying she still asked her nurses to sing it to her the last day at St. Jude – how she beamed!   Other stories share the struggle, the pain and worry and still others share the faith and belief that God holds the answer and the cure.  Throughout the past eighteen months we have shared all of the same with you – always trying to end on a positive note and asking and trusting in your prayers.  Today is no different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is almost unbelievable that later this month – or in three weeks time – we will be celebrating one year since Catie’s – here is the first stumble… is death the right word? Yes, Catie did die.  Or was it Catie’s birth to eternal life?  Yes, that is what we believe; that Catie now lives eternally with God in heaven.  Left us – could be used?  She is not here and yet she is and we will always seek to feel her presence and sense an awareness of her being with us.  Considering the importance of not only the word choice but also the day itself, we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of Catie’s life and death.  In the world of Catholic Saint’s, Feast days are often celebrated on the day that the saint died.  As it was one of Catie’s desires to be the Patroness of Pediatric Illnesses, we honor that desire through a celebration.  What will we do?  We will set this date – January 25<sup>th</sup> apart and like Christmas and other Holy Days we will spend it with an awareness of why it is special.  We will have Mass said for Catie and we will attend.  Preparing for this day is odd – there is no right or wrong and there is very little in the way of tradition.  It has been our feeling that being true to Catie may be the best way to celebrate the day.  It can be as simple as being there for one another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">How did we get here?  How did we move through 2009?  There are no memories of New Year’s Eve 2008 or of New Year’s Day 2009.  Remembering is one thing; being reminded is often something different.  Going back to the Catie’s Story website and reading last New Year’s Eve - may not have been the best way to remember.  It was day 37.  How is it that you are given a number of days less than 100 to be with your child?  To prepare them for heaven?  To prepare yourself?  To prepare your other children?  How is it that no matter how many times we are told to slow down and treasure the moments in life we add more to each day?  Why is it that the most significant moments in life will occur without us realizing it until it is over?  Even with the perspective that Catie’s life and death offered us we are still guilty of this – though less so than before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;">This past year we said good-bye to Konley, Catie, Hunter, Hannah, MaryKate, Liam, Mary, Alex, Clay, Reagan, Elizabeth Grace, Christian, Sydney, Breanna, and Dax and there were others.  Which each child we prayed for a miracle – we asked for Catie’s intercession and we still said good-bye.  We were disappointed each time.  Still we continued to pray.  Each day someone relapsed – today we are praying for Jack, Gavin and others.  Each day someone was added to the list of children on hospice – today we are praying for Dylan, James and Mattie and there are others.  Each day someone was added to the list of children who have cancer</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: navy;">,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"> today we are praying for Campbell, Kaiden and there are others .  This was and is overwhelming.  Why did and do we continue to follow these stories?  Many of the children Catie didn’t even know, we have not met them or their families and many of them are not treated at St. Jude.  Why?  In the midst of all the suffering and the entire struggle is the beauty and the resilience of the human spirit and power of prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are families for whom life has returned to normal or “normal after treatment”.  Families that are back home and living and enjoying life – Abby, Amber, Brayden, Ellie, Hunter, Jonah, Jill, Marit, Molly, Neve, Sean, and Trevor and there are others.  We need to offer prayers of Thankgiving for these victories!!  There are families who celebrated this Christmas with each other – cancer free like Mom-Mom who the doctors can’t explain the cure.  Thank you God.  There are stories that we are blessed to share and gifts that Catie’s Story gives to others and will continue to give as long as we have the strength to share it.  Someone once asked if we wanted to shelter the children from anymore of the pain and suffering?  Our answer was simple; if we hid the children from the pain and suffering then the stories of triumph and glory are taken away too.  We are a Christian people – we live in joyful hope for the future.  Christ told us He was coming back.  This world is ours.  We can spend time amassing that which we will never use or enjoy or we can spend time making a difference in the lives of others.  Through all that we experienced through our journey with Catie and now through her legacy, making a difference or at least trying to make a difference is our choice.  There is much to be done. Your prayers saw us through the eight months of Catie’s disease and your prayers have seen us through the past year.  Please continue to join us in prayer for our healing and for the many families who are still battling this disease.  There is a cure out there – through prayer and research it will be found.   Prayer reminds all of us that although there is much to be done we are not alone.  God is with us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for all of your prayers.  Kevin had ten days off over the Christmas holiday and we spent them together at home – for the most part.  They were wonderful days filled with love and laughter and the joy that comes from being together.  We are so very grateful for each other and thankful to be together.  We all still miss Catie each and every day and desire that she be with us.  That is not going to change but through God’s grace that desire will lead us to acceptance and peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #333399; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">May God bless you and the work of your hands,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">PS Please continue to pray for all of our dear friends from St. Jude - the doctors, nurses and staff that support the patients and families.  Please pray for all who have asked for our prayers and please add to your prayers Baby Jack, Danny, Erik and Zach all who are new to our prayer list and in need of our prayers.  <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking Back<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;">Less than one month after Catie’s death we received a note from a follower of Catie’s story.  This note was not added to the public guestbook but rather sent privately to us.  It simply read</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: navy;">,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: navy;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;">spend time with your family and stop wasting your time (it may have said spending your time – but that is not how it felt when we read it) writing updates</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: navy;">”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;">.  It was a note amidst the thousands – it seemed negative and like a slap to move on – and yet it stood out then and does now.  Writing to all of you – just writing in general has allowed us to clarify what is happening; to see not only the real measurable events of each day but also our thoughts and impressions.  You the reader share our journey.  It is our hope that this sharing will lead you all to pray – for us, for yourselves and for those we ask you to pray for in the P.S.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">Each morning when the computer is turned on the updates are waiting – when you are following the stories of pediatric cancer you always have mail.  Some of these stories tell of the child’s appointments, schedule, status and progress towards CANCER FREE or END OF TREATMENT.  How Catie loved the St. Jude song “You don’t need chemo any more”!  Even though Catie knew she was dying she still asked her nurses to sing it to her the last day at St. Jude – how she beamed!   Other stories share the struggle, the pain and worry and still others share the faith and belief that God holds the answer and the cure.  Throughout the past eighteen months we have shared all of the same with you – always trying to end on a positive note and asking and trusting in your prayers.  Today is no different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is almost unbelievable that later this month – or in three weeks time – we will be celebrating one year since Catie’s – here is the first stumble… is death the right word? Yes, Catie did die.  Or was it Catie’s birth to eternal life?  Yes, that is what we believe; that Catie now lives eternally with God in heaven.  Left us – could be used?  She is not here and yet she is and we will always seek to feel her presence and sense an awareness of her being with us.  Considering the importance of not only the word choice but also the day itself, we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of Catie’s life and death.  In the world of Catholic Saint’s, Feast days are often celebrated on the day that the saint died.  As it was one of Catie’s desires to be the Patroness of Pediatric Illnesses, we honor that desire through a celebration.  What will we do?  We will set this date – January 25<sup>th</sup> apart and like Christmas and other Holy Days we will spend it with an awareness of why it is special.  We will have Mass said for Catie and we will attend.  Preparing for this day is odd – there is no right or wrong and there is very little in the way of tradition.  It has been our feeling that being true to Catie may be the best way to celebrate the day.  It can be as simple as being there for one another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">How did we get here?  How did we move through 2009?  There are no memories of New Year’s Eve 2008 or of New Year’s Day 2009.  Remembering is one thing; being reminded is often something different.  Going back to the Catie’s Story website and reading last New Year’s Eve - may not have been the best way to remember.  It was day 37.  How is it that you are given a number of days less than 100 to be with your child?  To prepare them for heaven?  To prepare yourself?  To prepare your other children?  How is it that no matter how many times we are told to slow down and treasure the moments in life we add more to each day?  Why is it that the most significant moments in life will occur without us realizing it until it is over?  Even with the perspective that Catie’s life and death offered us we are still guilty of this – though less so than before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;">This past year we said good-bye to Konley, Catie, Hunter, Hannah, MaryKate, Liam, Mary, Alex, Clay, Reagan, Elizabeth Grace, Christian, Sydney, Breanna, and Dax and there were others.  Which each child we prayed for a miracle – we asked for Catie’s intercession and we still said good-bye.  We were disappointed each time.  Still we continued to pray.  Each day someone relapsed – today we are praying for Jack, Gavin and others.  Each day someone was added to the list of children on hospice – today we are praying for Dylan, James and Mattie and there are others.  Each day someone was added to the list of children who have cancer</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: navy;">,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"> today we are praying for Campbell, Kaiden and there are others .  This was and is overwhelming.  Why did and do we continue to follow these stories?  Many of the children Catie didn’t even know, we have not met them or their families and many of them are not treated at St. Jude.  Why?  In the midst of all the suffering and the entire struggle is the beauty and the resilience of the human spirit and power of prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are families for whom life has returned to normal or “normal after treatment”.  Families that are back home and living and enjoying life – Abby, Amber, Brayden, Ellie, Hunter, Jonah, Jill, Marit, Molly, Neve, Sean, and Trevor and there are others.  We need to offer prayers of Thankgiving for these victories!!  There are families who celebrated this Christmas with each other – cancer free like Mom-Mom who the doctors can’t explain the cure.  Thank you God.  There are stories that we are blessed to share and gifts that Catie’s Story gives to others and will continue to give as long as we have the strength to share it.  Someone once asked if we wanted to shelter the children from anymore of the pain and suffering?  Our answer was simple; if we hid the children from the pain and suffering then the stories of triumph and glory are taken away too.  We are a Christian people – we live in joyful hope for the future.  Christ told us He was coming back.  This world is ours.  We can spend time amassing that which we will never use or enjoy or we can spend time making a difference in the lives of others.  Through all that we experienced through our journey with Catie and now through her legacy, making a difference or at least trying to make a difference is our choice.  There is much to be done. Your prayers saw us through the eight months of Catie’s disease and your prayers have seen us through the past year.  Please continue to join us in prayer for our healing and for the many families who are still battling this disease.  There is a cure out there – through prayer and research it will be found.   Prayer reminds all of us that although there is much to be done we are not alone.  God is with us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for all of your prayers.  Kevin had ten days off over the Christmas holiday and we spent them together at home – for the most part.  They were wonderful days filled with love and laughter and the joy that comes from being together.  We are so very grateful for each other and thankful to be together.  We all still miss Catie each and every day and desire that she be with us.  That is not going to change but through God’s grace that desire will lead us to acceptance and peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #333399; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">May God bless you and the work of your hands,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">PS Please continue to pray for all of our dear friends from St. Jude - the doctors, nurses and staff that support the patients and families.  Please pray for all who have asked for our prayers and please add to your prayers Baby Jack, Danny, Erik and Zach all who are new to our prayer list and in need of our prayers.  <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> Merry Christmas 2009-12-25T19:38:13Z 2009-12-25T19:38:13Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/201-merry-christmas <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Merry Christmas to all of Catie’s followers,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">     As I sat in church this morning the memories of last Christmas Eve came flooding back.  Last year at this time we were putting the finishing touches on packing 8 people including one in a wheelchair and scrambling to get to the airport so that we could make our way to South Carolina for my dad’s 80<sup>th</sup> birthday.  I can remember Catie calling poppy and asking, “can we come and celebrate your birthday because I am not going to be here for mine?’  She was right, however what we were able to experience in the last 31 days of Catie’s life is a testament to your love, support and prayers as well as God’s amazing grace.  A year ago today began the odyssey of Catie’s 2 First Communions on the 25<sup>th</sup> and 28<sup>th</sup> with a wonderfully exciting 5am arrival home on the morning of the 28<sup>th</sup> after a 7 hour drive through the fog when our flight home was cancelled.  I can remember that night in the airport as Catie looked at Christine and me and asked us to please not cancel the Communion and party and our immediate decision to do whatever Catie asked of us.  We all say “no” to our kids and most times there are compelling reasons for our negative response.  As I look back on Catie’s last month, what I remember most are the times when we said “yes” to her and how thankful I am that we did.  I also realize what a blessing it is to be Christine’s husband and to be on the same page in our parenting.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">     A dear friend met us at church this morning and the kids all hugged and squeezed him as they always do and I again thought back to last Christmas Eve when as we were walking to communion he asked if he could carry Catie.  I was pleasantly surprised when Catie said yes to him and allowed him to carry her, it was not a privilege Catie extended to anyone except Christine and myself, (and sometimes not even me).  As he approached the altar he asked the priest to bless Catie and at first, the priest refused, it is just not something he normally does.  Dom, Catie, and the Holy Spirit prevailed however and Father extended his hands and blessed her, preparing her for her journey and for her First Communion the next day.  Today, I know that Catie was in that church with our family, with Dom, and with that same priest and extended a blessing to all of us to prepare us for whatever comes our way today.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">     This afternoon, we will go to mass again and celebrate with our parish family at St. Joseph’s the birth of Jesus.  Mia and Maggie will be in the choir loft singing their hearts out and I will again be blessed to be holding the hand of the woman that I was created to love.  We will remember poppy and hope that his birthday is all that he could hope it to be, we will remember Catie and hope to be open enough to feel her presence, and we will remember that over 2000 years ago a child was born to a loving and selfless couple who simply and consistently said yes to God’s plan for their lives.  Whatever your faith, the Christmas story is both timeless and compelling.  It is a story of choices and that is why it resonates in all of us because our lives are all about choices as well.  When God blessed us with free will, He allowed us to have a hand in determining not only what our life would be like here on earth, but where and how we would spend eternity.  That same free will that we possess was shared by Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.  Mary could have said no to Gabriel and God instead of yes, Joseph could have said no as well.  And what about Jesus?  Can you imagine when God laid out the plan to Jesus; 1.leave heaven and go to earth as a single cell.  2.grow inside Mary’s womb for 9 months and then be born in a stable.  3.leave home in the middle of the night and flee to a foreign land and live in hiding.  4.return home years later and grow up as the only boy your age because all of the other boys were slaughtered.  5.become a carpenter like your father.  6.become an itinerant preacher who is so beloved by the crowds that they want to make you a king.  7.become such a threat to the establishment that you are tortured and killed  8.watch almost all of those that you shepherded abandon you.  Who could have blamed Jesus if He said “no, I think I’ll just stay here in heaven.”  Thank God that He made the choice that He did.  That is what I will be celebrating beginning this afternoon.  This Christmas, I will be concentrating to hear all of the little messages of choices where people said yes to God and His plan.  Hopefully the more I hear the more I will be able to follow their example and do the same in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">     That is also what Catie taught me in her last month, consistently responding affirmatively to God’s will.  My father taught me that as well and I am proud to be his son.  For 81 years, he has been an example of acceptance.  I have never known him to worry, I am sure he believes that God has cared for him for 81 years and has a good track record, no reason to start second guessing God now.  For me, trusting in God’s plan is easy at times and downright impossible at others; but again, it is a choice.  My prayer for all of us this year is that Christmas sparks a renewal of absolute trust and surrender to God’s plan for our lives.  May this Christmas season be filled with countless blessings and numberless opportunities to say yes to God and yes to one another.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">May you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas and if you are traveling, please travel safely,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Merry Christmas to all of Catie’s followers,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">     As I sat in church this morning the memories of last Christmas Eve came flooding back.  Last year at this time we were putting the finishing touches on packing 8 people including one in a wheelchair and scrambling to get to the airport so that we could make our way to South Carolina for my dad’s 80<sup>th</sup> birthday.  I can remember Catie calling poppy and asking, “can we come and celebrate your birthday because I am not going to be here for mine?’  She was right, however what we were able to experience in the last 31 days of Catie’s life is a testament to your love, support and prayers as well as God’s amazing grace.  A year ago today began the odyssey of Catie’s 2 First Communions on the 25<sup>th</sup> and 28<sup>th</sup> with a wonderfully exciting 5am arrival home on the morning of the 28<sup>th</sup> after a 7 hour drive through the fog when our flight home was cancelled.  I can remember that night in the airport as Catie looked at Christine and me and asked us to please not cancel the Communion and party and our immediate decision to do whatever Catie asked of us.  We all say “no” to our kids and most times there are compelling reasons for our negative response.  As I look back on Catie’s last month, what I remember most are the times when we said “yes” to her and how thankful I am that we did.  I also realize what a blessing it is to be Christine’s husband and to be on the same page in our parenting.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">     A dear friend met us at church this morning and the kids all hugged and squeezed him as they always do and I again thought back to last Christmas Eve when as we were walking to communion he asked if he could carry Catie.  I was pleasantly surprised when Catie said yes to him and allowed him to carry her, it was not a privilege Catie extended to anyone except Christine and myself, (and sometimes not even me).  As he approached the altar he asked the priest to bless Catie and at first, the priest refused, it is just not something he normally does.  Dom, Catie, and the Holy Spirit prevailed however and Father extended his hands and blessed her, preparing her for her journey and for her First Communion the next day.  Today, I know that Catie was in that church with our family, with Dom, and with that same priest and extended a blessing to all of us to prepare us for whatever comes our way today.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">     This afternoon, we will go to mass again and celebrate with our parish family at St. Joseph’s the birth of Jesus.  Mia and Maggie will be in the choir loft singing their hearts out and I will again be blessed to be holding the hand of the woman that I was created to love.  We will remember poppy and hope that his birthday is all that he could hope it to be, we will remember Catie and hope to be open enough to feel her presence, and we will remember that over 2000 years ago a child was born to a loving and selfless couple who simply and consistently said yes to God’s plan for their lives.  Whatever your faith, the Christmas story is both timeless and compelling.  It is a story of choices and that is why it resonates in all of us because our lives are all about choices as well.  When God blessed us with free will, He allowed us to have a hand in determining not only what our life would be like here on earth, but where and how we would spend eternity.  That same free will that we possess was shared by Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.  Mary could have said no to Gabriel and God instead of yes, Joseph could have said no as well.  And what about Jesus?  Can you imagine when God laid out the plan to Jesus; 1.leave heaven and go to earth as a single cell.  2.grow inside Mary’s womb for 9 months and then be born in a stable.  3.leave home in the middle of the night and flee to a foreign land and live in hiding.  4.return home years later and grow up as the only boy your age because all of the other boys were slaughtered.  5.become a carpenter like your father.  6.become an itinerant preacher who is so beloved by the crowds that they want to make you a king.  7.become such a threat to the establishment that you are tortured and killed  8.watch almost all of those that you shepherded abandon you.  Who could have blamed Jesus if He said “no, I think I’ll just stay here in heaven.”  Thank God that He made the choice that He did.  That is what I will be celebrating beginning this afternoon.  This Christmas, I will be concentrating to hear all of the little messages of choices where people said yes to God and His plan.  Hopefully the more I hear the more I will be able to follow their example and do the same in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">     That is also what Catie taught me in her last month, consistently responding affirmatively to God’s will.  My father taught me that as well and I am proud to be his son.  For 81 years, he has been an example of acceptance.  I have never known him to worry, I am sure he believes that God has cared for him for 81 years and has a good track record, no reason to start second guessing God now.  For me, trusting in God’s plan is easy at times and downright impossible at others; but again, it is a choice.  My prayer for all of us this year is that Christmas sparks a renewal of absolute trust and surrender to God’s plan for our lives.  May this Christmas season be filled with countless blessings and numberless opportunities to say yes to God and yes to one another.  <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">May you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas and if you are traveling, please travel safely,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p> </p> Mario Lemieux 2009-12-19T21:56:40Z 2009-12-19T21:56:40Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/200-mario-lemieux <p><span style="font-size: small;">Catie Team Followers,</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">     Catie and Catie's Wish has been selected as one of the 3 most inspirational stories about personal journeys with cancer.  Please click on the link below to see Catie's video and the other finalists.  This is a battle that we will continue to fight on Catie's behalf and with your support.  Thank you for continuing to journey with us.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MarioLemieuxFDN"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.youtube.com/user/MarioLemieuxFDN</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">God bless you,</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">Catie Team Followers,</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">     Catie and Catie's Wish has been selected as one of the 3 most inspirational stories about personal journeys with cancer.  Please click on the link below to see Catie's video and the other finalists.  This is a battle that we will continue to fight on Catie's behalf and with your support.  Thank you for continuing to journey with us.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MarioLemieuxFDN"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.youtube.com/user/MarioLemieuxFDN</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">God bless you,</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E., and always Catie</span></p> <p> </p> How love changes your life 2009-12-18T07:16:22Z 2009-12-18T07:16:22Z /index.php/the-story-so-far/archives/1-journal/199-how-love-changes-your-life <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">We are making our way through all the prep for Christmas.  Buying and thinking of gifts is really no different.  Making lists and hurrying about - rushing and feeling the need to rush - running out of time to get everything done  - none of those are a part of this Christmas.  Instead there is a peaceful calm amidst our heartache.  Remembering Catie and missing her is where we are.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Thinking about Catie in some way</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">s</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> makes it feel more like Christmas.  Catie and taking care of Catie brought us so close together as a couple and as a family.  It has been said that children are the glue of a marriage.   In our case Catie and her cancer became the cement.  Anytime we attempt to move forward without Catie, without prayer, without God - we as a family or Kevin and I as a couple feel the crack.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">At this same time the Fab 5 are a delight.  I have never been so thankful for them.  M.E. at three has developed her own language.  When a shirt is in my mind, “inside out”, M.E. calls it “outside in” and asks me to make her shirt “outside out”.  I relish observing and sharing her life and am so very thankful to Kevin </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">and God </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">I have </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">the privilege to stay at home.  This is a decision that we made years ago before kids – did God know then that we would only have 7 years, 9 months and 2 days with Catie?  Yes, He knew as He knows all things.  I am so thankful that I accepted Kevin’s gift and was blessed with the extra time with Catie before she went to school.  I am also and will always remain so thankful to all who supported us making it possible for us to seek treatment in Memphis at St. Jude.  I spent four months with Catie and while I can’t recall every moment I know that each of moment was a blessing.  </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">All children are a blessing.  Spending time with the kids and witnessing all the wonders they discover in their world is a miracle that occurs every day.  It is a gift from God and blessed are all those given that gift.  I could watch the Fab 5 and listen to them (when they are interacting with each other playfully) forever.  I pray I will be blessed with this reality.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">This is a prayer I first prayed twelve years ago “Dear God, please allow me to witness this child grow up to know you and love you and serve you in others.”  Then I was pregnant with our first child.  It was not an easy pregnancy but never having been pregnant before what did I know.  When I was told just before midnight on December 16<sup>th</sup> that I was going to have child before morning I prayed like all mothers for a healthy baby – whether the baby was a boy or a girl did not matter only that the baby was healthy and that I would live to witness the life of that child.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Maggie was healthy.  Our first child was a healthy brave blessing and that is exactly who Maggie is today.  Maggie has an understanding of God and her faith in Him that I have never experienced before in a child.  While I prayed and was concerned about Maggie due to her small size (birth weight 4.14) Maggie reached her hand out to me to grasp my finger as I looked at her in her incubator.  At the time I was unsure how my life was going to change I simply knew that it would.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">After each child my life changed a little less.  Now it has changed as radically as it did after Maggie’s birth.  Being pregnant</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> all us pray for a healthy baby – that makes sense</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">;</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> that is what we all want</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">;</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> to love and raise a health “normal” baby, we pray this not just for ourselves but also for anyone we know who is pregnant.  Just like when we get married we take all our vows – i</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">n</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in good times and in bad – again we all pray “between you and me God good, healthy, rich times, right?”</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">What happened to us when Catie became sick is what changed our lives.  We had this amazing beautiful healthy strong intelligent girl.  She was so gifted.  She could sing like a bird.  She was musically talented.  She could mimic anything you taught her – a dance, a song, a movie line – on the first or second try.  She was athletic – competing with her older brother Max when she was two years younger and she never backed down.  She was happy and loved life and people.  Put all of this together and you are just scratching the surface of who Catie was and we love her for this and countless other reasons.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">I loved two things about her the most – listening to her sing in the back of the car and watching her.  I loved the way her eyes squinted when she smiled.  I loved that way she always wore her hair in braids.  I loved the way she was so confident and sure of herself and you </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">could </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">tell this by looking at her.  I loved her smile.  I loved her because of who she was and because of how I felt being with her and I still do and I always will.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">All this love that I have for Catie still exists.  I still love her.  When she became sick what changed was me.  I became totally willing to keep on loving Catie even though she was no longer healthy.  I would have carried her for the rest of my life.  I would have read to her and bathed her and fought alongside of her forever.  Loving Catie and caring for Catie became who I was and it became who we all were once Catie came home.  Everyone helped take care of Catie and everyone loved it and Catie once again accepted it.  Catie did enjoy being in charge and teaching the kids all about her central line.  She loved telling them about how things were done and about the medicines that she was taking.  She allowed them to be a part of everything.  While she was busy accepting that she would no longer walk, run, jump or ride a bike we were growing in our willingness to take care of her and be Catie’s legs, feet, balance and strength.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">I always knew that people were more than their physical bodies and told this to Catie dozens of times at St. Jude – where we saw many children without limbs, without “normal” walks, with scars and with lines coming out of and into many places in their bodies.  We are all more than our bodies.  Collectively we are all Christ.  Individually each day we are offered at least one opportunity to use our bodies to be Christ for someone else.  Each day we are offered the opportunity to allow someone else to be Christ for us.  Catie taught us this and forever changed how we view our bodies.  We watched her </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">to accept </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">her body failing without complaint and we understood surrender from Catie’s example.  </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Catie loved us all so very much that she would have stayed here on earth to allow us to take care of her.  We learned that we had to let her go and serve others who may need us just as much as she did; isn’t that just what Christ challenged us all to do for one another?  We have learned through our grief that the tears keeping falling and the sadness remains with us unless we are reaching out and helping others.  Each day that is what we pray we will do.  Each day we are thankful for Catie, her life and her example.  We will still miss her and long to be with her again but reaching out to others bridges that gap between heaven and earth better than anything else we have found.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Happy 12<sup>th</sup> Birthday Maggie!  We love you and are so blessed to be your parents.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">May the peace of Christ be within your heart today and always,</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E. and always Catie</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">PS  Please continue to pray for those that have asked for our prayers.  For </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">the children who are sick and recovering:  Abby, Alex, Anne Marie, Brayden, Campbell Charles, Charlotte, Cody, Cole, Dan, Dax, Dylan, Ellie, Gavin,George, Hunter, Jack and another Jack, James, Jonah, Joseph, Kaiden, Kate and another Kate, Kathleen, Kendra, Marit, Mickey, Molly, Neve, Nicole, Richard, Sean, Sheldon, Stacey,  Theresa, Trevor, Tala, and William.  Please also pray for all the families who long to be reunited with their children and other family members.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">We are making our way through all the prep for Christmas.  Buying and thinking of gifts is really no different.  Making lists and hurrying about - rushing and feeling the need to rush - running out of time to get everything done  - none of those are a part of this Christmas.  Instead there is a peaceful calm amidst our heartache.  Remembering Catie and missing her is where we are.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Thinking about Catie in some way</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">s</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> makes it feel more like Christmas.  Catie and taking care of Catie brought us so close together as a couple and as a family.  It has been said that children are the glue of a marriage.   In our case Catie and her cancer became the cement.  Anytime we attempt to move forward without Catie, without prayer, without God - we as a family or Kevin and I as a couple feel the crack.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">At this same time the Fab 5 are a delight.  I have never been so thankful for them.  M.E. at three has developed her own language.  When a shirt is in my mind, “inside out”, M.E. calls it “outside in” and asks me to make her shirt “outside out”.  I relish observing and sharing her life and am so very thankful to Kevin </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">and God </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">I have </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">the privilege to stay at home.  This is a decision that we made years ago before kids – did God know then that we would only have 7 years, 9 months and 2 days with Catie?  Yes, He knew as He knows all things.  I am so thankful that I accepted Kevin’s gift and was blessed with the extra time with Catie before she went to school.  I am also and will always remain so thankful to all who supported us making it possible for us to seek treatment in Memphis at St. Jude.  I spent four months with Catie and while I can’t recall every moment I know that each of moment was a blessing.  </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">All children are a blessing.  Spending time with the kids and witnessing all the wonders they discover in their world is a miracle that occurs every day.  It is a gift from God and blessed are all those given that gift.  I could watch the Fab 5 and listen to them (when they are interacting with each other playfully) forever.  I pray I will be blessed with this reality.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">This is a prayer I first prayed twelve years ago “Dear God, please allow me to witness this child grow up to know you and love you and serve you in others.”  Then I was pregnant with our first child.  It was not an easy pregnancy but never having been pregnant before what did I know.  When I was told just before midnight on December 16<sup>th</sup> that I was going to have child before morning I prayed like all mothers for a healthy baby – whether the baby was a boy or a girl did not matter only that the baby was healthy and that I would live to witness the life of that child.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Maggie was healthy.  Our first child was a healthy brave blessing and that is exactly who Maggie is today.  Maggie has an understanding of God and her faith in Him that I have never experienced before in a child.  While I prayed and was concerned about Maggie due to her small size (birth weight 4.14) Maggie reached her hand out to me to grasp my finger as I looked at her in her incubator.  At the time I was unsure how my life was going to change I simply knew that it would.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">After each child my life changed a little less.  Now it has changed as radically as it did after Maggie’s birth.  Being pregnant</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> all us pray for a healthy baby – that makes sense</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">;</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> that is what we all want</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">;</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> to love and raise a health “normal” baby, we pray this not just for ourselves but also for anyone we know who is pregnant.  Just like when we get married we take all our vows – i</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">n</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in good times and in bad – again we all pray “between you and me God good, healthy, rich times, right?”</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">What happened to us when Catie became sick is what changed our lives.  We had this amazing beautiful healthy strong intelligent girl.  She was so gifted.  She could sing like a bird.  She was musically talented.  She could mimic anything you taught her – a dance, a song, a movie line – on the first or second try.  She was athletic – competing with her older brother Max when she was two years younger and she never backed down.  She was happy and loved life and people.  Put all of this together and you are just scratching the surface of who Catie was and we love her for this and countless other reasons.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">I loved two things about her the most – listening to her sing in the back of the car and watching her.  I loved the way her eyes squinted when she smiled.  I loved that way she always wore her hair in braids.  I loved the way she was so confident and sure of herself and you </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">could </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">tell this by looking at her.  I loved her smile.  I loved her because of who she was and because of how I felt being with her and I still do and I always will.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">All this love that I have for Catie still exists.  I still love her.  When she became sick what changed was me.  I became totally willing to keep on loving Catie even though she was no longer healthy.  I would have carried her for the rest of my life.  I would have read to her and bathed her and fought alongside of her forever.  Loving Catie and caring for Catie became who I was and it became who we all were once Catie came home.  Everyone helped take care of Catie and everyone loved it and Catie once again accepted it.  Catie did enjoy being in charge and teaching the kids all about her central line.  She loved telling them about how things were done and about the medicines that she was taking.  She allowed them to be a part of everything.  While she was busy accepting that she would no longer walk, run, jump or ride a bike we were growing in our willingness to take care of her and be Catie’s legs, feet, balance and strength.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">I always knew that people were more than their physical bodies and told this to Catie dozens of times at St. Jude – where we saw many children without limbs, without “normal” walks, with scars and with lines coming out of and into many places in their bodies.  We are all more than our bodies.  Collectively we are all Christ.  Individually each day we are offered at least one opportunity to use our bodies to be Christ for someone else.  Each day we are offered the opportunity to allow someone else to be Christ for us.  Catie taught us this and forever changed how we view our bodies.  We watched her </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;">to accept </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">her body failing without complaint and we understood surrender from Catie’s example.  </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Catie loved us all so very much that she would have stayed here on earth to allow us to take care of her.  We learned that we had to let her go and serve others who may need us just as much as she did; isn’t that just what Christ challenged us all to do for one another?  We have learned through our grief that the tears keeping falling and the sadness remains with us unless we are reaching out and helping others.  Each day that is what we pray we will do.  Each day we are thankful for Catie, her life and her example.  We will still miss her and long to be with her again but reaching out to others bridges that gap between heaven and earth better than anything else we have found.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Happy 12<sup>th</sup> Birthday Maggie!  We love you and are so blessed to be your parents.</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">May the peace of Christ be within your heart today and always,</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Christine, Kevin, Maggie, Max, Mia, Molly, M.E. and always Catie</span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #bf00bf;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">PS  Please continue to pray for those that have asked for our prayers.  For </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">the children who are sick and recovering:  Abby, Alex, Anne Marie, Brayden, Campbell Charles, Charlotte, Cody, Cole, Dan, Dax, Dylan, Ellie, Gavin,George, Hunter, Jack and another Jack, James, Jonah, Joseph, Kaiden, Kate and another Kate, Kathleen, Kendra, Marit, Mickey, Molly, Neve, Nicole, Richard, Sean, Sheldon, Stacey,  Theresa, Trevor, Tala, and William.  Please also pray for all the families who long to be reunited with their children and other family members.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>