This morning at mass our priest asked us to pray for a couple and their baby daughter. Apparently, this couple tried to have a baby for 17 years! Can you believe that? God works miracles and yes...they conceived.....however....the baby must have been born early for she only weighed 2 pounds. The priest said after several months in a neo.natal unit...the baby finally came home a few weeks ago and last weekend the couple brought their precious gift to her first Holy Mass. The priest then told us that the baby "crashed" last Wednesday...and she is not doing well...kept alive by ventil.ators. Please keep this couple and baby in your prayers...The babies name is Paulina. (As a side note...last spring a friend of mine told me to pray this novena to Mary for this woman prayed the novena and at age 44..conceived.....I wonder if this is the same woman/couple. I prayed the novena..oh well...). This story made me realize that having a baby can be scary....even for a couple who waited 17 years. My 6 seems so minute. God has His reasons for everything...as hard as these reasons are to understand...it should be enough that they are God's reasons....I try to remember that.
Last week I found out more shocking news. I was talking to a few fello grad students before class and I mentioned another student who I used to work with (she's a teacher ( an awesome one at that..a hard worker)...I was her aide)... Well...."E" got married summer 08 after dating her dh...for many years. Their families were good friends, they grew up together...it was like they were meant to be. She told me all of this when I was her aide. Back to last week...my fellow grad students informed me that this past summer 09....E is now divorced!!!!! I couldn't believe it. I was speechless when they told me this. I have no idea what happened...but guys....whatever it is...it has to be bad. I sub for E at times...so maybe I'll find out more this fall...I won't ask...she may tell me. I was reminded of how blessed I am to have the honor to be married to my wonderful dh. Maybe we don't have children...but we do have a good strong marriage and faith. I know I've said this before...sometimes I feel selfish for asking God to bless us with a child. He's given me so much already. Please keep E in your prayers. I know she needs them.
With those two tragic pieces...I wish I had good news to share....hmmm...I made it through my first week of classes! Woo Hoo...I'm going to be very busy. Lots of group projects. I'm working on not procrastinating so yesterday I spent the whole afternoon researching an article for Thurs. I now need to read it and write a short paper. This year the university is cracking down on how we cite references (for me it's A.P.A style)...so I need to get the newest addition of the manual...so I won't lose points for not citing correctly. Ugh! I have one more "flippen" year of classes to go...so I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. I need to stay focused and motivated. Please pray for me so I can keep doing well and that I will make a great teacher. It may be my only hope of making a difference in a child's world. I'm praying for you all! Many blessings.
Praying for a successful year for you, a renewed hope for E, and for a life filled with many blessings for Paulina!
ReplyDeleteWow, 17 years! I can only imagine that their story is amazing. I'll add Paulina to my prayers as well as your friend E.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, 17, that is insane. I pray I never make it that long, though I could very well put in 20 yrs since I started at age 25.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know what you mean about appreciating your marriage. The waiter at my parents' 40th anniversary brunch came over to compliment them on an obviously very loving marriage, with the "right values." (This was right after we had said Grace.) It was a nice reminder of the good things we have, even if we don't have babies... yet.
17 years. Wow. Sending prayers up.
ReplyDeleteI remember someone wrote on a wedding card "to be sure and guard your marriage." I never forgot that . . . how it's such a special thing that needs to be protected.
Great job on the classes! The time will fly by, I'm sure.
I'll keep E and Paulina in my prayers. It must be even harder on Paulina's parents since they waited 17 years; I can't even imagine.
ReplyDeletewow.. 17 years... that really puts things in perspective.
ReplyDeleteall are in my prayers.
congrats on getting through the first week! i always thought the beginning of school was fun, before all the work really starts. :)
i just saw one of your comments on AYWH's blog...
ReplyDeletem and i have not really put much into adoption, or really even started to decide on it, but what agency is in the d/fw area? would you mind sending me the info? i'd like to at least start looking at the basics of it all.
hope you are having a great labor day break.