Monday, June 30, 2014

It's Chemo Eve again and a time of rest




Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on Our Life''s Journey Together,

It's Chemo Eve and a time of rest and reflection. We are a day early in the cycle due to the 4th of  July holiday. Oncology personnel take Friday off and I do not blame them in the least. I'm here at home tonight resting and giving myself permission to rest, relax and renew. I'm giving you permission to do the same.
Resting is so very important as I have said before, for our bodies, minds, and spirits Here are my creative suggestions for you to help you add necessary rest, relaxation, and renewal to your life.

        Walk With Me On Our Journey's Suggestions for RRR (Resting, Relaxation, and Renewal)


  • Turn off  all the electronic devices. Uplug
  • Make your home a spa
  • Candles, incense, aromatherapy
  • Play your favorite music ( Listening now to "Phantom of the Opera" as we speak)
  • Make it a PJ day or evening!
  • Go to a hotel and enjoy time away from home - Can you spell Staycation
  • Go to the movies
  • Explore new restaurants 
  • Take a drive. Steve and I did the 'Sideways' movie map!
  • Tour your town's historical places
  • Sing in the shower
  • Have a date night with yourself or that special someone.
  • Pray Meditate, and  have a conversation with God 
  • Walk, hike, bike, boat!
  • Take a trip to a nearby city
  • Fall in love with being by yourself
  • Walk on the beach, smell the sea air!
  • Prayer walk
  • Walk a labyrinth
  • Sing loudly and lustily! 
  • Take pictures outdoors and enjoy God's Cathedral of Life
  • Go to church
  • Don't forget about intimacy with your partner or spouse ! It is essential!
The list is endless! Be Creative, DON'T JUST DO, BE!

That should give you enough fodder for starters! 

***********************

Gracious God we come to you with weary bodies, minds and spirits this evening we know that when we come to you  and in your presence that we will find rest, relaxation, and renewal. 

We pray for the 3 Israel Youth by name who where found dead : Eyal, Gilad, and Naphtali. We pray for all who mourn and that they may rest in peace and rise in glory.

We pray for those who are feeling despair and are alone. We pray that your comforting presence may abide with them.

We pray for all those who are in the hospital and ill and their families who sit a bedside. We pray for healing for all those who are ill in body, mind, and spirit,

We pray this night for all those who have entered eternal joy suddenly and we pray for their families who are at a loss and in grief. We remember especially___________________

We pray for the peace of the world and an end to terror and violence. We pray that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you O God.

We pray for those discerning vocations and new life paths! We pray that you O God will lead them to their true calling.

We pray for all those who have asked us to pray for and especially for ourselves! Help us to learn to love ourselves, our family members (Neighbors) , and you God more fully and without fear.

We pray that we may be more loving, accepting, to all of our brothers and sisters remembering that all means all and not some and we don't get to pick and choose who our family members are.

We lift up our prayers in the Holy Name of  Jesus. Amen.

********

Good Night to my Blessed and Loving Family! Take time to rest, relax, and renew and know that you are loved beyond all measure and you matter not just to me but to the God who made you ! I love you and I give thanks to God for you this day and always!

Love, joy, peace, and hope be always yours !

Sara

























Sunday, June 29, 2014

Walking the pilgrimage trail with love in my heart and joy in my steps!





Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Life's Journey Together,

Tonight was another wonderful night walking the pilgrimage trail. Tonight our usual marine layer didn't make its usual appearance. I was glad that my stamina has returned. I get excited, energized, and enthused by praying and walking. You'd never know that I'm going through cancer treatment and grieving the losses of Dad and Steve. That's where having courage and a tender heart come in. a friend of mine, Sister Janet Corcoran tells people who care that they are "Care Bears!' and have "Heartitude" God wants us to have Heartitude and much, much more. God wants us to be able to love others with a radical and life affirming and accepting love. This week I challenge everyone to be more loving and allowing yourself to be loved. It isn't easy but we all must start by loving ourselves. God is the best teacher of this and we must follow God's lead.Why am I mentioning this?. It is because there has been way too much hate going on in the world and in the cyber world as well these days. It has hurt my heart to see this and it brings out a little bit of anger when I see our family members being hated, abused, and not accepted. When we become more loving we sew good seeds and positive energy. Our prayer focus for this week is that we pray to bring love to a broken world, ourselves, and to all of our family members All means all and not some.


Tonight I ask your prayers for those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. We pray for comfort and strength.

We pray that we may welcome the stranger in our midst with an open heart and mind. May we show them love, compassion, and mercy.

We pray for all who are ill either at home, in the hospital , or extended care.

We pray for all who are seeking employment and who are wanting promotions and better pay.

We pray for all the children who are out of school, we pray for their safety and protection

We pray for all who labor in the fields who harvest the produce that we eat.

We pray for safe working conditions at any time of the day or night.

We pray for all those who struggling and fighting many battles.

We pray for peace in all the war torn countries that wars and sectarian violence may be stopped.

We pray for an end to all hate and especially in cyberspace.

We pray for common sense and sound governance throughout our country and that our leaders may remember it is the least of these they serve.

We pray for our homeless, hungry,lonely, and who feel invisible.

We pray for all of our brothers and sisters who are longing for acceptance and equal rights.

We pray especially for______________ and we add our thanksgivings, remembrances, and celebrations as well.

God we pray that we may be more loving and that we may begin to love ourselves more fully so that we may love you and our neighbors (family members) with a tender heart and willing and open arms of welcome.

We ask these our prayers in Jesus most Holy Name. Amen.

**************

Good night loving and wonderful family. I love you very much and that is now and forever!  I'm not going anywhere and I'm continually being blessed by you presence in my life. I give thanks to God for you this day and always.

With love and abundant joy!

Sara
























Operator -Manhattan Transfer

The Like in I Love You- Gershwin / Brian Wilson

All You Need is Love- The Beatles

Harvest Moon - Neil Young!

A prayer walk like no other, Relay for Life Relay for love!




Dear Family of Love.

Many of you may have read this post on Facebook this afternoon but I felt it was worth sharing again for those may not have done so.
As the old spiritual said "O Lord What a Morning!" I wasn't sure what I'd find when I went up to the Elks' Unocal Event Center for Relay for Life. When I checked in they gave us each a wrist band, a bag, a tee shirt, and lots of goodies to go in the bag. We also signed this year's survivor quilt.  We had a continental breakfast, They had those poppy seed muffins! I hope they don't screw up my labs on Monday! The opening ceremonies were very moving and then it was time for the survivor lap. We filed past Airmen from VAFB (Vandenberg Air Force Base), The Sheriff's department, and the Fire department, and were each given a medal as a symbol of being a hero. I'm getting misty and teary while I write this. And then we were given roses by young people. I feel blessed to be in this awesome family of people living and surviving with cancer. As I walked two laps I thought of how many people who are my survivor heroes and heroines that have graced all of our lives. I see myself standing on the shoulders of courageous people everywhere. My dad Leroy, Mother Louise, Sister Margaret all who are my role models and yes many of you whom I call family. Tonight I will go back for the luminary ceremony. My friend Alesia Pappas-Yglesias bought one to honor me. These are special times dear family and I love you and am so very grateful to and for you.

This evening I did go  back to the Relay for Life's Luminaria Ceremony and had an opportunity to do two more laps and reflect on all the luminaries that were given in honor, memory, and support of. I  had an emotional experience seeing my luminary and one of my friends who is battling colon cancer as well. Today we celebrated lives lost, lives being healed, and lives that are being reborn because of Cancer. I got to see more survivors who have Canned their Cancer and lived to tell about it. Hearing everyone's stories meant that this wasn't just Relay for Life, It was and is a Relay for love. This evening instead of the usual written   prayers let today's photos speak to you as a prayer. I ask you to remember, celebrate, pray, and give thanks for those who have Cancer, are caregivers, Those who have lost their battle with the disease, and celebrate today and celebrate loving, living and laughing.





























Good Night Family of Love!

I love you, you matter, and together we will continue our amazing prayer walking pilgrimage and journey.
Every day we walk and pray is like no other and will never come again.

Peace, Love, Blessings, and I give thanks to God for you this day and always,

Sara

Today was truly a day of "Amazing Grace" ! This was played at tonight's Luminaria Ceremony and walk around the track.