Thursday, July 05, 2007

Contratimes: On Politics: When The Man Deceives: A Video For Destruction (Part 1)

Bill G has an excellent series starting, with this first post. Please do take the time to watch the video:

Contratimes: On Politics: When The Man Deceives: A Video For Destruction (Part 1)

and then... another that is a follow-up to this one, found here.

Pitythefool has also explained how he found the first video of Al Gore at the second video site, and has left these links to follow:

Here is a link to "The Mother of All Connections" article:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content...

And because Stephen Hayes talked about my video on FOX, here is a link for you to buy his book called "The Connection: How al Qaeda's Collaboration with Saddam Hussein Has Endangered America."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060...

HT to Contratimes and to PitytheFool, and God bless!


Wednesday, July 04, 2007

"Those Who Cure You Are Going to Kill You!"

"Those Who Cure You Are Going to Kill You!"

Chilling words, in light of the recent event in London and Glasgow. All 8 arrested were involved in the medical field in some way, MD's, Medical Assistant, students.

How many others may be like these 8? And how often have I said... What happens to 'moderate, peaceful Muslims when the Islamofascists begin to tell them that they MUST follow the radical Islam or be treated as apostates?

From the article:

Shiraz Maher, a former member of a radical Islamic group, said he knew Abdulla at Cambridge University.

"He was certainly very angry about what was happening in Iraq. ... He supported the insurgency in Iraq. He actively cheered the deaths of British and American troops in Iraq," he told BBC television's "Newsnight."

He said Abdulla berated a Muslim roommate for not being devout enough, showing him a beheading video and warning this could happen to him. He also said he had a number of videos of al-Qaida's former leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike last year.

HT to Roman Catholic Blog--Thomistic

There are some VERY good comments made by Thomistic on Validity and Nullity of Marriage here ! And JUST IN CASE that link doesn't get you there, here is the url to the full article on Roman Catholic Blog.

Posted by: Thomistic | Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 01:12 PM
Posted by: Thomistic | Monday, June 25, 2007 at 08:51 PM

That SECOND one has a multitude of Links to follow, and I hope that people take the time to do so!

God bless!

Monday, July 02, 2007

Dad29 One more....

Dad29

"The “pro-choice” crowd is chronically anti-choice when it comes to any behavior of which they disapprove. Like smoking. Or owning a gun. Or owning an SUV."


Dad29 WOW! Dennis Miller on Reid!!

THANKS for the link, Dad29~

Dad29

I can only say WOW, AMEN, and RIGHT ON! I LOVE that Dennis Miller!

The link on Dad29's site leads to here...

God bless!!

Dad29 I Guarantee--Not a Dry Eye in the house!

Dad29

What a well written piece! What a Tribute to two students!

God bless!

Update on WI Catholic's Journey

I met the Oncologist, Dr Goggins, today with my oldest daughter. Dr asked me if she is my GRAND DAUGHTER!!! ARGH!

I don't think so... grin.

He put the biggie right on the table, right away... No chemo. 95% chance it is ended now, 5% chance of recurrence...thank God. He said Dr Flanagan was right.

He wrote everything he said down as he said it! I have a copy of the notes, and that is really a big help. I am not all that familiar with the terminology of oncology myself.

Stage 1, but because Dr Flanagan only took seven lymph nodes, criteria says 12, or upgrade by one Stage, so on paper, I am Stage 1, but considered Stage 2.

It did go into the muscle some, but not ( cannot think of the word he used, but meaning it did not go fully around the area of the colon.. circumference is part of the root of the word he used...)


If you know the terms, it is
T= tumor size and invasion= T2
N= Nodal status = 7 lymph nodes, non-positive= N (zero) 0
M= Metastases (spread) + Mx
  • only 7 lymph nodes (concern)
  • surface ulceration (concern)
  • Grade 2 colon cancer
  • Non-circumferential (GOOD) OH... THAT is the word!
Recommendations:
Follow-up for five years
  • First year, see him every three months for check up and Labs (CEA level for tumor markers, liver tests, blood counts, kidney function)
  • Second year, see him every four months as above
  • Years 3-5, see him every six months as above
  • Colonoscopy in one year, if OK, will be longer time interval, if not, a repeat in one year.

I can handle "Go Lightly" once a year... I was afraid it would be every three months!

THANK YOU all for the prayers, the flowers, the cards, the concern! It was a good report, and I was MUCH relieved to hear it...

God bless!


Oncologist (My Journey Continues)

My journey continues. I dread this one more than even going in for the surgery! I really did NOT want to go alone, but feared that I had to. Perhaps, His Mercy will give my a companion to go with after all...

This journey began on May 29th. I left work, and drove to a Perkins Restaurant to meet my son and daughter in law for supper. They had been to the Doctor and heard their baby's heartbeat, and were so very happy and excited. In the middle of supper, I felt a need to go to the lady's room where I had a terrifying moment--shock, disbelief, denial.

I put on a 'happy face', because I did NOT want to be the cause of taking away the joy they felt on this day. I went back to the booth, and nibbled a little more, talking about anything BUT what had just happened.... then...I had to go to the lady's room again... and again, as if to confirm the first time, and pull me OUT of denial--a repeat of earlier.

We stayed for a short time, still talking baby, still being 'normal'. I kissed them good bye, and rushed home, wondering if I would make the trip fast enough... I did... JUST made it into my apartment and down the hall.

It ended then. I went to work the next day, and said nothing to anyone there, including the Dr I work with. I was being 'shadowed' by a new employee for the day, so had a lot to teach. I was fine. No pain, no bleeding, no symptoms. I was scheduled off the next day, so knew I could rest...

Then I got home, and later that night, it started once again... my apt manager was coming the next day to check the air conditioner. I decided that I needed to talk to her before calling anyone. Why? I needed to ask her to make keys to my apartment for each of my three children, so that they could get in if there were any emergency.

She came about 1 PM Thursday, May 31st. She agreed to the extra keys without any question. When she left, I called my oldest daughter to ask her to take me to the 'acute care' clinic..and had to tel her why. She was NOT happy with me for waiting. She asked 'Which hospital, Mom?'... I reiterated... "no hospital (sharp nurse here.... ) Acute care!"

She drove me to St E's ER. There I was told that Acute Care would not do anything but send me back to them....argh.... I knew I was sunk, and was going to end up being admitted.

Sure enough. I had NOT eaten all day, because I was up all night, and finally fell asleep very early, and got up just before my apt manager came... then Erin came and we left for the hospital. Now I was told.. Ice chips only, and the 'prep' I dreaded for the scopes ('top and bottom' as the MD said...). And NOTHING by mouth after midnight.

I slept little that night, either. On Friday, June 1, 2007, I had the scopes done, and as I was coming out of the anesthesia, they told me I was going for an abdominal CT Scan soon.... OH COOL! THIS IS NOT GOOD! NURSE IN ME SAYS ... "THEY FOUND SOMETHING!!!!!!"

They had. A mass. A General Surgeon consult needed. Biopsy done, not back yet... Five days in the hospital, because they did not want to release me til I saw the surgeon, because of the potential to bleed again. She finally came on Monday. We made plans, and I was discharged on Tues. I went to work on Wed, Thurs, and Friday. By now, of course, work knew I was in the hospital.

Remember my 'shadow' from last week Wed? Well, now he became my official replacement, and I trained him on Thursday and Friday...and then went home to wait for Sunday's 'prep' to begin...and Surgery on Monday, June 11, 2007.

Meanwhile, I had told Mom many times daily from Friday night on where I was, why, and what was going to happen. Poor Mom knew she was worried about me, but could not and still cannot remember why. In one phone call, she would repeat over and over again... "And where are you? Why are you there? And why wasn't I told this before?.... I don't remember being told before...." And I would repeat my answers, saying... "Yes, Mom...I told you. You just don't remember that I told you, and that is OK..."

There is more of my journey here and here and here and here and here.... which then brings us to later today...

The ONCOLOGIST. He has the final word on any further treatment needed. At two fifteen today, I will be in his office. I don't want to go alone... I know HE is with me, but the presence of another human being who knows me is something that is important.

I have praised Him, for He knows what He is doing, what the future holds, and He is the Great Physician. I have asked for Wisdom and Guidance for all those who are going to be involved..and the HE be in charge of who those people will be. I choose to Trust HIM.

But I have also told Him that I don't like being on this journey alone. My children, my Mom, my siblings, my friends are important to me. But they are not 'Husband'. It is not the same. And it really hits hard when Cancer enters the picture...

Please continue to pray for me.

God bless!

ADDENDUM July 7, 2007 12:22 AM

I neglected to add the update link to this post... NO CHEMO! NO RADIATION!



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Sunday, July 01, 2007

The MARINE and Pursuit of Happyness--Two Movies

I have watched two movies today, which is something I don't often do.

THE MARINE, though violent (of the Terminator style, etc) is the story of a married couple who are suddenly thrust into a life and death situation. While it is outrageous in most of the scenarios, and John Cena as John Triton has nearly as many lives as a cat, it is also perhaps a 'teaching tool'.

The movie synopsis describes the person of John Triton as a tough Marine who does what he needs to in order to complete his mission in this way-- "with everything on the line...will stop at nothing to carry out his toughest and most important mission".

As I was watching this movie, there were two parts of Scripture that kept running through my mind. While those who wrote and made this film may have been thinking of Marine training, Marine toughness, Marine readiness... "Once a Marine, Always a Marine.... Semper Fi"... "Always Faithful". "Oorah!"

I saw an added theme. Many wives are elbowed in churches world wide when Ephesians 5 is read, and some find themselves resenting it. But the aspect of that famous section that gets the LEAST amount of attention, but is the HARDEST to live up to is the last part, and I have often suspected that the REASON that wives get 'the elbow' is to take their minds OFF of the next words coming up!

Ephesians 5
25: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26: that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27: that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
28: Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29: For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,
30: because we are members of his body.
31: "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32: This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church;
33: however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Husbands... love your wives...how much? "...as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"... and just how much IS THAT? (smile) I think you know what is coming, don't you?

John 3
:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17: For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Jesus loves His Church, His Bride so much that He gave His life for Her, so she could live!

Those are the two verses that ran through my mind the entire time I watched "The MARINE"...

SEMPER FI! OORAH!



And then there was the second one....a much more quiet pace, but JUST as intense in many ways. It is based on the true story of Chris Gardner, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, starring Will Smith with his son, Jaden.

Though this movie reminded me in many ways of my own struggle to raise my three children alone, (including three separate times when I could NOT work due to medical reasons, etc for three to four months at a time, with no income other than child support coming in...)work full time, return to school full time WHILE working full time and raising three... whew!...

The movie is based on a true story of one man's struggles and success, but it goes deeper than that.

It shows the NEED a child has for a real DAD, who cares enough to fight for him, to better himself for him, and to hold them together no matter what!

That is something usuall forgotten , even ridiculed today. "Who needs a Man?" is often the theme of films, 'women's activists', and the society in general. It is evident in sitcoms and childrens' shows where the man of the house is depicted as a weak buffoon, where not only the 'wife' is smarter, but often, the CHILDREN know best. It is closer to the Truth than most of the ... dare I say... 'garbage' that is spoon fed to us today??

One of the most poignant spots is when the child reaches up to touch his Dad's face and says..."You're a Good Papa!" (or words to that effect).

Having watched so many men walk away or shoved away from their children in my lifetime, this movie (and probably the book it is based on) is one that REALLY speaks to what a Dad's (not just a 'father') role NEEDS to be. "Any man can be a father... it takes a REAL MAN to be a DAD"... a lesson that I tried to teach my own son as he grew up, including by encouraging him to reach out to his father for major decisions/male input even when he did not want to (who is the "HE"? ..... smile.....sometimes my son... sometimes his father...it was a two way street, as I ALSO 'encouraged his Dad to take some ... fatherly responsibility, ie... Dad, can I get my ear pierced?... WHAT??? )

**note... he did NOT get it pierced until he HAD gotten permission from his father, and his father came to the door and gave that permission to me to allow him to do so... "ONE EAR, ONE TIME only, his left**... alas, that changed when the kid turned 18... LOL)

But the song at the end... oh, the song at the end... that song says it so very, very well...


A Father's Way

A Father’s Way (Acapella Intro)

Lyrics taken the best I could from Movie and listening to above...
A Father's Way
I build a fence around you in a father's way
I try to feel what it is you're going through
Cuz I've played it many ways.

When you Grow
How much will it take to slow you down
Half the way?

Do my best to please you
And I do what's right.
I try to find each word that I'll say to you when you come home tonight
And if so
How hard will we cry before our sun
Fades away?

And one day when the fence is not so high...
The road you took..

And how far will you go?
And how high will you climb?
And when all in life's unfair
Are you strong enough to find Another Way?
Another Way?

A Father's Way?
Baba ba da ba
Hey
Hey

I build a fence around you in a father's way
Just like the one who used to preach to me,
Now I've become that way...

But you know..

How soft lay the hand that used to strike to the heart
I want you to know
The road you took...

And how far will you go..
And how high will you climb?
And when all in life's unfair,
Are you strong enough to find another Way..
Another Way?
A Father's Way?

I know
Ooh ooh ooh
There's no way that you're gonna stay.
There's no way.

I build a fence around you in a Father's Way

Luke 15:11-32 (New International Version)

The Parable of the Lost Son

24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Hosea 2:
6: Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns;
and I will build a wall against her,
so that she cannot find her paths.
7: She shall pursue her lovers, but not overtake them;
and she shall seek them, but shall not find them.
Then she shall say, `I will go and return to my first husband,
for it was better with me then than now.'


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Update on Grandson

My oldest daughter's family is near Madison, on their way home with Grandson. He is fine now, MD wants him to have another EEG next week. They are not sure why he had the seizure. (Two other posts are here, and here)

They have not had much sleep, so we are still praying safe travels. They have about a two hour drive yet.

God bless!

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Irish Eyes: Husband for a year, soon to be dad

Irish Eyes: Husband for a year, soon to be dad

My son has been having puter problems for quite awhile. He FINALLY got online and made his announcement!

He has seen my pregnancy tickers... in fact, told me what it says today when I was talking to him on the phone. Wanted to know what CRL was. I could not remember, did a little search...

"Crown to Rump Length". Baby is curled up, so they measure this way.

SO, my Son who is "now a father, soon to be a Dad".. finally made the announcement about the Christmas Day delivery that they are expecting...

Congratulations to the new parents of my pre-born grandchild!

God bless

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