Thankful Thursday

St. Theresa

I continue to get blessings from sweet St. Theresa.  There are times I ask her to please go to someone I know needs her help.  She is so sweet.  I continue to see signs of her.  Like when I went out of town for this little guy's Baptism

Left of the front alter was this:

I know it may not seem like anything too amazing to find a statue of St. Theresa in a church, but to think I wasn't sure if I could make it to this baptism and in front of her is a statue of St. Peregrine who I also prayed to a lot.  This also all comes together at a time when I wasn't feeling the best about things.  The usual stress and worry about life.  To see her makes me feel good.  I love her so!

And then there's my garden boxes.  Finally they are all set up!

  I've had nothing come back......... 

BUT wait

I was mistaken

my little baby roses made it!

They are coming along nicely!

taken this morning

Oh how I hope she hangs around my garden lots this summer!!!!  I used to always imagine her sitting with me in waiting rooms NOW I want to imagine her sitting with me by my garden.  I think she does too.

If you listen you will hear!!!  Just be quiet

On this day in 2009

Sometimes I like to go back on a given day and look up my pictures from that same day previous years....so here's today's picture 2009.  Gee to me I look skinny - but I'm sure at that time I thought I was fat. 

Married 4 months I look extremely happy. 

Oh what I would tell this girl..................To me in this picture I also look so clueless.
Who would think in 7 months they would tell her she was sick with cancer.

My sentiments exactly.

Life is Short - ENJOY every minute! 

And ya know what I wouldn't tell that girl a thing~ clueless and happy is Good!

My ride has had bumps, BUT I wouldn't change a minute.
I'm blessed - and St. Theresa continues to watch over me....

Feast Day of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

On this wonderful day last year I was leaving for my biopsy when mom called and told me she was at mass and that it was the Feast Day of St. Therese.....I gathered my St. Theresa beads and was on my way with an urge to pray to her.  Through that whole appointment I felt like she was with me and I felt so good.  St. Theresa found me on her Feast Day through my dear mother and I love the both of them even more on this blessed day.

This is the day I attended my 1st healing mass at St. James with my parents, Rob's parents, Rob and Lucas.  Today I will be celebrating mass at Betty's Funeral......how incredibly touching.

Wanna hear something else- I attended Betty's viewing last night and guess what prayer cards she had -

     
"Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it be without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and carry you like a little child too feeble to walk."



Thérèse of Lisieux

Here she is at 13 

Let's also not forget it's the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and St. Theresa's own mother had breast cancer.

I love you St. Theresa

Had an "AW" moment at my doctor appointment

I had my follow up appointment with my radiologist and they ask a bunch of questions like how I'm feeling and if I have any pain.  Well I am in the habit of always saying something about my weight and they always brush it off and I get mad.  So this last appointment the nurse said to me, "We are always concerned when a patient is losing weight not gaining".  "You are lucky you are doing so good".  So I realized that this person as well as my doctor see a lot of sick people who probably can't gain weight and are dying and here I sit complaining about weight gain- what a jerk I've been.  This whole weight gain has also held back my happiness, because I'm now onto worrying about what I look like and what people think of me.  I'm not letting myself enjoy the happiness I deserve after everything I have been through.  I don't know what it was that made me WAKE UP, but I have a feeling it may have something to do with St. Theresa.  I hadn't been reading my book on her because I'm towards the end of the book and she is dying and I feel like when I'm done with the book she'll be gone.  Silly I know, but it's how I feel.  So anyways I finally starting reading the book again on my trip down to the city and I felt enlightened.

I am so lucky to have felt extreme enlightenment during my nephew's birthday party.  Sam is my Godson and my whole cancer seemed to be around the time he was about to be baptised.  The night before my biopsy I attended a baptism class for Sam.  So his little journey has reminded me of my little journey.  In the beginning of his life I wondered if I would be around to see him grow and now I was sitting here at his 1st Birthday party and other than a cold I felt good; no up coming operation or treatment!  I felt such happiness in my heart like never before as we sang Happy Birthday to him.   

  

There is a fun giveaway at TatorTots and Jello  and
you have to check out this beautiful baby girl
at DearLillieBlog the pictures on this blog are so sweet~

Thank you so much Caity and Matt for the gifts you left me- I love them! 

And thank you again Amy for my necklace............

Thank you St. Theresa for always being there for me.

Thank you for watching over my uncle for me! 

Last CHEMO!!!!

Well it's all done- never want to do that again! BUT if I had to I would do it in a heartbeat.

My inspiration board through all this

So leading up to Chemo some things that went on:

My back pain was still bothering me after 3 weeks- went to my doc here and I went alone. Well when he ordered an x-ray- I freaked a little- to myself. Thank God for St. Theresa- I imagined her there holding my hand. I was then a mess until results. Rob sat and prayed with . The x-ray showed the tissue expander in place and my bones look OK. Relief. Was given muscle relaxers and he refilled my zanac for my upcoming surgery. Just in case. I may try and not use it.

Had a breakdown in the fitting room at Target. I went to get filters and seen something I wanted to try on. At one point I got a glance of my good boob in the mirror and started to miss having my breasts. I couldn't get dressed fast enough and get out of there. I wasn't of the best attitude at home and Rob straightened me out.

Last chemo was exciting and scary- because now do I sit and wait to see if I have a recurrence? I could see that happening. I just can't afford to do that. Plus I am still in treatment so I need to think about 1 step at a time.

Praying- has been more difficult lately. I just get so tired with trying to walk and get organized. When I don't pray I don't feel as good mentally. Also when I don't pray I feel like I'm so far from God and I can be a real baby when I don't get a sign that I'm ok.

BUT I did manage to pray for my dear uncle Guy and my friend M from Sloan. M hasn't had her chemo treatment in weeks and was maybe not going to be able to have it. I said a rosary for her this week and when I seen her yesterday she HAD HER CHEMO and was so happy! I will miss seeing M at chemo. She gave me a beautiful journal with bible quotes.

I finally replenished my Blessed Mother's vase this week - oh and Rob moved her.I went to mass Sunday and prayed to the Blessed Mother after mass as well as St. Theresa.

My Blessed Mother was given to me by my food friend Auroa. Remember that name.

My dear Leann- sent me the most beautiful package with 2 little satin bags- She sent me vintage earrings with a matching pin. A book mark of roses and two medallions- 1 of St. Francis and 1 of St. Theresa. Thank you Leann.

A lot of friends prayed for me my dear Liz Fin, Amy sent a great card, Barbara and Bettie checked on me. My friend Tammy checking on me. Marianne and Pat checked on me. Amber was strong with the check texts and as every treatment day sending that days "lucky text". Jen played phone tag with me. Caity and KathyB and friends sent messages checking on me. Lucas friends wonderful mom checked on us and kept us up to date. Uncle Guy and the whole family checked with me. Cousin Damian and Faith, and Missy they got in touch with me. JenJen form tatortotsandjello blog always sending prayers and love. JenJen and I have never met but she has been a great friend through all this. Annie at 5Peas sent me encouragement and good info! Becky kept in touch even through her troubles. Krista phoned in and her husband stopped by. Even little Mallory checked on me- I think? She called Lucas ;)

(Had to through that in to bug Krista) A newly diagnosed women offered help to Rob and I - amazing. Dean, Mary and Corey always supporting and helping us. Vicki my life saver is always there for me. Liz calling me and making me feel good.

For all my facebook friends praying and pulling for me. All the Breastcancer.org women.

Joe and Nicole always giving loving words and telling me they love me. My nephews and nieces who pray for me and make me cards and chocolate cover strawberries. My church group who prayed and kept me updated. My pastor and the Healing Mass at St. James for the healing they have done for me.

Rob's parents always there to help us. Pat constantly looking up info for us, the trip to the city and dinner and the phone calls and telling us they love us.

My dear parents- how sorry I am to have not been the strongest. There endless prayers, rosaries, dinners, clothing, taking care of Lucas. I can never repay you. The days I sat in the back seat of your car driving in the city I felt so bad that you had to take care of me at this time in your life. Thanks for the excited phone call after Chemo and the beautiful flowers waiting for me at home as well as my Pandora bracelet additions!

But most of all thanks for praying and pushing me to be better and giving me my religion.

Rob- I couldn't have done any of the appointments- treatment without. You are so precious to me. The days you hold me as I cry are priceless. The days you took my abuse- I'm sorry. You never turned me down to sit and pray and you actually encouraged me in times of darkness. I love you.

My Rob inspiration...a framed card he gave me

and a bride and groom given to me by Leann

My beautiful boy- he will never know how I would have never made it through everything without him in mind. I never want to leave him and I will fight for my life- I want to see his babies. He has made this journey with me and it has not been easy and I see it when he breaks down and cries for things to be normal again. It will not only be normal it will be better I promise. I know he prays for me and I love him more than my own life. Thank you my beautiful son I love you so much!

My Lucas inspiration: He loves me more than gravity- How cute!

The night before chemo I said my rosary asking for help from The Blessed Mother! Ask St. Theresa to once again help me to see the face of Christ in the people I meet.

So Rob and I went to the city alone- he's a good driver!

I always have to stop for a bathroom and so we got off in Jersey! It was a gas station with attendants. The kind of station that just has a booth type of building. We asked about a bathroom just for the heck of it. And they said they had one in that little building- what? So I go in and all I see is a door that looks like an office door- So I open it. Yeah it's an office. BUT here's the lay out:

To the left is a sink and toilet right in front of the toilet is a desk chair at a desk w/ a computer. In this little room was also a microwave and mini fridge. How weird- you could actually sit on the toilet and work on the computer....LOL

Ok - so as I'm doing my thing- and looking around for a hidden camera- What do I see- a rosary hanging up by the computer. HOW COOL. How many restrooms do think you could visit in Jersey and find a rosary? And that's the restroom we stopped at.

Well ever since I've been diagnosed I really enjoy looking at the sun and I love seeing birds. Birds make me feel so good- no idea why. My favorite birds are the ones that hang out on Dyer street entering NYC. They are always there. Birds and Jewels- Double nice!

Rob enjoys looking for models in the City:

I know the shades trick ;) When we go to the waiting room for my appointments- I've learned to sit by people I don't think are big talkers. I can't handle hearing too much bad news. So we picked a seat by another couple- see couples have each other to talk to and pretty much keep to them selves. So Rob had to leave me because we had a parking dilemma going on. Well don't you know the couple leaves and a woman sits right next to me in Rob's seat. I've seen her before when I was with my dad for a treatment- Dad talks to everyone. I don't know her story. She is skinny (very much not like me) she looks frail and I wanted nothing to do with talking to her. Nice- huh? Then I felt for her as she was on her phone talking to someone she loved, calling her dad to make arrangements for her children for the day, and talking to a friend who was suppose to be meeting her at the appointment. So being that even though I don't want to sit by talkers- I'm a talker. Plus did I just pray to see Christ in other people as in "get over yourself Danielle". I ask "How are you?" She says- "good" We talk about the doctors we are seeing- and in the process of the conversation I find out her cancer has spread to her brain. I think she had breast cancer when her daughter Auroa was 2- she is now 5 this time around with cancer. I was so mad/upset- I hate cancer! I ended up really feeling for this lady- why her? It's not fair! So then her friend arrived and she was off. The good news- She has cancer - it's spread to her brain and she still going! How funny her daughter's name is Aurao- not a name you hear everyday. I feel so bad for wanting nothing to do with her- that's a sin. I won't ever do that again- I pray.

I was nervous about this appointment because my oncologist was not going to be there and I had a female- sometimes I do better with male doctors. Anyways she comes in gives me the low down- I need to take iron again, will meet with my oncologist in 4weeks for Tamoxifen prescription, get a bone density test, and after radiation get a colonoscopy . And then she gave me a hug and sent me off to chemo. I love that she hugged me- it made me feel like a person. I wouldn't mind seeing her again when my guy is out.

Usually my chemo room has a view of another building- nothing too exciting as you can see.

Well this time the nurse told me I got a room with a great view! And it was a great view.

See that little white thing toward the middle of the picture between the two trees?

I had to take a picture! As I was taking it I noticed something way back- A Statue of The Blessed Mother! I know I was meant to have that room that day - Thank you Mary! I needed that.

During treatment I got to put on my 8th Chemo Bracelet! I LOVE it- It's my Pandora bracelet with the pink ribbon! Thank you so much Mallory, Kyle and Krista- I love you guys.

After treatment we walked over to FAO - it wasn't easy I was a little tired and I wore heels! I am determined to wear heels again!

So you know why we went there- I wanted a bear there. I feel in love with him the day before I started chemo. Well he was gone- some lucky kid is probably loving him right now. I did find this other guy who stole my heart. From these 2 pictures you can see me before chemo and after- it took a toll. It is so worth it! I still consider myself so lucky. These pictures however will help me to make my way back to a healthy happy person. It's inspiring to see. I do have to say this- there is a test you can take if you are estrogen positive and node negative- and if the score is to your liking you can skip chemo. Something to remember- that's why early detection is so important - this is why you shouldn't wait till you are 50 for your 1st mamo- don't do that.

Wow this picture is so not nice- motivational though~ I am so puffy :(

After FAO we walked some more and wanted dinner- we decided to take a chance and drive over to Little Italy for dinner at a place we like- Bonito 2. Well we got there and there was a parking spot right out front and the guy at the door told us we didn't need to bother with the meter- YEAH! Lucky for me I had a spare wig in the car because I had terrible hot flashes at the toy store and soaked my wig- GROSS. I had to actually go in the bathroom and wipe off my head and then put that wet wig back on - double gross. Anyway had a spare.

Dinner was good.

Notice the wig change ;) Tip: always carry a spare wig with you especially if you are going through chemopause!

After dinner we walked to find some dessert. We walked by an Italian shop my friend Auroa likes so I sent in just because it reminded me of the last time I was there with her. Well as I'm in there's a box of pictures- who's on top? A picture of St. Theresa- the only St. Theresa in the box I looked.

Thank you St. Theresa- I love you!

Last night I slept with my bear- maybe foolish but it made me feel good.

His name is MILES- because of all the miles we have travel through all this.

This post was extra long! I just wanted to document this very special thing- finishing Chemo!

Last but not least please pray for the moms fighting for their lives today.

Love

Danielle

ps- Chemo is DONE!!!

Today is my 5th Treatment (not really)

Gee I never did post this on the day of my 5th treatment so I added a bit to it and I'm posting it now.

I'm a little nervous about this treatment because it is a different chemo drug than I have been having. It is called Taxol and it will take 3 hour to administer it. I'm not the best one for taking my chemo nicely, I tend to get a little nauseous when it 1st goes in. You hear of chemo being called a poison and it sticks with you.

BUT............I did get a CD by Bernie S. Siegel called Getting Ready. It is to prepare you for surgery, radiation and chemotherapy and it is EXCELLENT! He talks about chemo, surgery and all that as a form of rebirth. He relates the chemo process to labor and delivery and that really seems to help me. Labor was so worth it and now chemo will be too. There is no doubt that I will have to go through some sort of rebirth. I must not fight it anymore I just have to do it.

My mom is going to go with Rob and I this time.

Right now every time I go for treatment I get to see my friend M. M and I shared a hospital room and have become friends. She now has treatments on Monday too so it's really nice. She is stronger and sweeter than me. She's been through more than me and she's always so sweet and smiling. I need to be more like that.

I have received some great cards and gifts this past week. They were so special this week because I had my worse week. When I get back from treatment it's hard at my house. I'm the biggest problem.........I'm mad/I'm sad/depressed. I get in such a hole. So when I received cards from Barbara, Donna and Mary I was so happy. I also rec'd a call from Elsie. Leann and Amber are always checking on me as well as my cousin Faith.

My mom helped out big time.........with groceries and cooking meals and driving, driving and more driving THANK GOD FOR MY MOM! I mean she even went to water aerobics when I asked her and she #1. can't swim and #2. isn't big on water. LOL

Rob's mom made us a huge pot of yummy soup and brought me flowers.

Our friend's daughter made me chemo bracelets. I get to put new bracelet on every time I get a chemo treatment so I'm up to 5 bracelets after today. How sweet is this little girl, she originally offered to cut her hair for me. I'm crying over being bald and here this little 8yr old (at the time) offered to cut her hair off for me to wear!!! What a woman she is going to grow up to be.

I love everyone who prays and supports us! Thanks everyone who takes our calls for help.

One important note.............I had an itch on my right lump/site of future breast!!! How weird is that? It was sort of to the side. I also then had an itch under my skin which was just plain different. It reminded me of the 1st time I felt Lucas move inside me. I haven't had much feeling there so it really freaked me out. It seems to be healing pretty good.

Ok more important things.............It's now Wednesday more than a week from when I originally typed out the above post. My treatment went well, but I still struggle with fear and just plain sick of being sick and tired. I received in the mail from a wonderful woman I met an article on Jewels and LOVED IT! Someday I'll do a whole post on Betty a great woman I met!

My wonderful Aunt and Uncle sent me the most beautiful card that totally said what I hadn't been feeling. Plus they also sent me a St. Theresa Chaplet- how amazing it was to receive a sign from St. Theresa. I love my Aunt and Uncle very much and pray my Uncle will soon get the heart he is waiting for. My uncle is one of the strongest people I know. To talk to my uncle is so comforting because he is so strong and I truly believe he has an in with someone upstairs.

Love this card:

Breast Cancer tip- the aspirin a day is actually really good for fighting breast cancer- Google it or go to BreastCancer.org!

and I really enjoy this Doctor's website: Dr. Christine Horner

Christine vowed to go after her mother's killer- Breast cancer. Her website is very informative.

At least Read her 30TIPS HERE

Always remember they are finding out new things everyday and in her tips she mentions soy.......which I'm not sure it really good for certain breast cancers

Last but not least some pics from the last time Lucas and I turned up the music and fooled around during homework.........................

Prayers

Well here's my St. Theresa story. A best friend sent me the St. Theresa Novena and I saved it until I was going for my 2nd surgery. I said it for the 5 days and the last day ended on the morning of my surgery. The whole thing about St. Theresa is that sometimes if you pray to her you will receive a rose. The rose can come in any form- scent, sight and so on. Well on the morning of finishing I then read from my wisdom book which opening quote was: "The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose"~Hada Bejar~

That made my morning.

I love praying to her and I am reading the book "The Life of a Soul" in which she talks about her life.

Here is the Novena if you are interested:

Five-day prayer

"St. Therese, the Little Flower, please pick me a rose from the Heavenly garden and send it to me with a message of love.

Ask God to grant me the favor I thee implore and tell Him I will love Him each day more and more."

Also say five Our Fathers, five Hail Marys and five Glory Be's, and pray everything on five consecutive mornings before 11 a.m. On the last day, add one more set of five Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glory Be's.

Here is St. Theresa as a young girl

Happy Thanksgiving~

SWell got the call this morning ALL the other nodes were negative for cancer cells! Thank you God, the saints and everyone praying for me.

I am so happy about that and feel closer to getting rid of this cancer.Thank you St. Theresa I love you!

Today is good. I'm so blessed to still pray hard and have help from above. When I think back to my St. Theresa prayers and the things I ask for they come to me. Like when I was at the hospital for my 2nd surgery I had the women in the store tell me that a mastectomy was nothing she had been through it. After that I had a man (a big jolly guy) tell me not to worry his wife had breast cancer 15 years ago and it will be ok. Then my nurse told me that "This is just a bump in the road.". At first I didn't think much of it, but then I thought of the prayer which contains this:

Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence.

I work hard on this, but at times I struggle with my confidence. I only told my mom about one night having a feeling of Jesus telling my nodes were going to be clear. I didn't talk about it because of confidence I suppose. I only told my mom after they told me my nodes were clear. So then when I got the report that one was not I was thrown, not only because I didn't want any nodes to have cells, but because I thought for sure Jesus was talking to me it really hurt. This is where I believe my faith was tested. I thought about it a lot before today. At times I thought this is where Jesus was talking about clear nodes, but I still struggled with believing. I feel so bad not being so confident. I will continue to pray for confidence.
God was speaking to me through those people.


On another note I read every day from Daily Word for Women written by Colleen Zuck, Janie Wright, and Elaine Meyer. I love this book and recently read about Kindness:

I know that this is true for me: When I am kind to others, I am the first to be blessed.

This is because the kindness that I give to anyone must first move through me, and it does as a warm glow of love and acceptance emanating from God's spirit with me. Kindness immediately refreshes me with thoughts of what is highest and best.

That refreshing, relaxing feeling then moves throughout my body, relieving me of any stored tension, freeing my organs and muscles to function in perfect ways.
I may not think that everyone deserves my kindest thoughts, but I need to be blessed by them. For my own well-being, I express kindness that heals and refreshes me and all my relationships.

As hard as this is when I'm down I at least make sure I smile. Today when I was at the store I smiled at a guy and he said: "Thank you for that smile, it's so nice around Thanksgiving to see that and be thankful." Then he said, "God Bless You Princess".

It's going to be a great Thanksgiving. I know I have a way to go but it will be ok.

St. Theresa

Ok - I have a great story!

Today is Sunday and I woke up and started to get ready for church. I struggled in the bathroom because I was thinking about my right breast and how sad it was that it had to be removed. I missed it a lot. I have something there but still. I cried a good one and then I thought how blessed I am.

Now on to the story:

I got to church an hour before mass started because as Rob was dropping off Lucas for religious ed. I would get dropped off at church and do my prayers in church.
I love going early because it's so quiet and I like to pray before the statue of the Blessed Mother. I like to do this because I'm a visual person and looking at the statue makes me feel good. As I've been learning to meditate I also use meditating during prayer. I like to meditate everyday on my crucifix. I look at and pray on the face of Jesus on the cross. I like this because I was told that my cancer is my crucifix to carry so I try to think about Jesus carrying his cross and I get great strength from that. A couple of times I have meditated and thought the eyes on my Jesus were open. On my actual cross they are closed but I swear a couple times now they are open. This is special and I would have never believed in such a thing if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

So I said my prayer by the Blessed Mother and then I sat down to say my morning prayers and say a rosary. I saved my St. Theresa Prayer for the basement where I found a statue of St. Theresa a few weeks ago. I love looking at her. After that I went to the restroom because I needed to take some Tylenol before mass. The sink in the bathroom was out of order so I had to go up stairs.

I was making my way through the basement when I seen a women, tall, slender, cool glasses, long brown coat, beautiful brown leather purse and amazing scarf making her way towards St. Theresa. I thought to myself - How strange I never seen anyone else greet the statues in the basement before. We said "Hi" to each other and as I was walking by she was stopping at St. Theresa. I went up stairs to the other bathroom only to find her standing by the bathroom.
Here's our conversation:

Me: Are you waiting for the restroom?

The woman: Yes, but I believe you are ahead of me. I seen you in the basement.

Me: No, that's OK I just need a drink of water. (then I notice a faucet outside of the bathroom) And I see there is water right here.

Woman: Do you have a cup?

Me: NO (not very prepared)

Woman: Wait- here you go (she hands me a collapsible cup from her purse)

Me: Thank you- I'm not used to taking a pill when I'm out and about.

Woman: Are you sick?

Me: I had surgery and I'm taking some Tylenol for pain.

Woman: What kind of surgery, I'm a doctor.

Me: A mastectomy

Woman: What? How old are you, you look like you are in you 20s? (love that comment especially after my feel sorry for myself morning)

Me: 40

Woman: Do you have cancer?

Me: Yes

Woman: I'm a pathologist- which breast cancer do you have and what type of tumor?

Me: Invasive Ducal Carcinoma, Estrogen positive, Size 2in x 2in

Woman: Where did you have your surgery?

Me: Memorial in NY

Woman: Who is your oncologist?

Me: Still working on that

Woman: Well do you use deodorant? Stop using it. Get a good oncologist, ask your Doctor at Memorial to ask who is good here and also ask Breast Cancer Survivors who they like, Eat Fruits, Vegetables and Whole Grains, Pray, Meditate, and have 1 Bowel Movement a day(BM- funny she finishes on that note because BM are always on my mind).

Me: Thank you so much

Woman: I work in NYC but I have a home in Endicott. My name is XXXXXX and you can get in touch with me any time.

She gave me her address here and in NY. She was the sweetest lady.

OK- so that was interesting but then I was able to talk with her after mass. Turns out she has attended a couple of seminars my surgeon has given and she knows of her. We talked about food, meditating, oncologists, prayer, family and stress. She is the 2nd female doctor to ask me about my life as in was it a stressful life or was a "martyr" type. There are people who believe people who have a stressful life an don't take time for them self suffer physically. I must say when I lived in a home with a mean person I was not well. Anyways she said I did everything she herself would have done if faced with Breast Cancer and that I will be fine. She asked about children and I told her of Lucas and my new marriage. She asked if I was going to have a baby. I told her I wasn't sure. When leaving the last thing she said to me is "Who knows you may decide to have a baby in a couple years." That was funny to me because just last night Rob and I were talking about that because he felt bad for dragging his feet and now thinks maybe the chance is lost.

Now here's my favorite part of the story, we talked about prayer and saints. She began to tell me to pray to the saints and I told her I pray to St Theresa. She laughed and said, "me too", and I seen you in the basement. I told her yes I said my prayer to St. Theresa. Then she said to me "That's amazing because when I was down there today I thought her eyes were looking somewhere else today and that was when you were walking by." "She was watching you."