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Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Some Cross Stitch Done
Three sides of the frame done on this sheep flock block.
I put a thin variegated fuzzy trim around this cross stitched sheep thread keeper.
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Monday, January 27, 2014
Of Cells and Science
“Every person on this planet leaves behind them a material imprint of their existence. Among them is a man who arguably exerted the greatest influence on the history of humankind.”
...Witnesses to Mystery, Investigation into Christ’s Relics, Gomy and Roesikon, Ignatius Press
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| See the shadow in the upper right portion of the picture of the Virgin Mary statue taken by Frank when he was in Rome. |
I read the book, Witnesses to Mystery... this past month.
I found the book, which has really good photographs of Christ's relics, to be a solid history of them over the past 2000 years, and a good survey of where Christ's relics are now and how they've been scientifically studied, usually by scholars that are not Catholic.
Rather than being a defense of the Faith, this book sets out to be a valuable encyclopedia of Christ's relics, and what has happened to them over the years and as well as where they are now. It also outlines what studies have been done on each relic and what they have shown. There are also short forays into subjects and people related to the main relic story like St. King Louis IX, or the various Crusades, how St. Helen found the True Cross and other relics, and much more. Very easy reading probably because there are so many pictures! It would make a good coffee table book.
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| Another 'Frank in Rome' photo. |
Reading Witnesses... brought back to my mind another scientific study and small article about it I had read just before we moved. I decided to search for the study and found the paper online without any trouble.
The far reaching, and I think, the amazing, results of this study show that even years later, the living cells of a mother are found in the body of her offspring, and the live cells of every pregnancy of the mother's has been found in her body (fighting injuries and cancer, in her blood, bone marrow, organs, etc.) Scientists used to believe that the offspring cells which were found at injury or cancer sites, were responsible for creating the tumors or cancers - now they believe these cells are, in fact, surrounding these sick cells to keep them from traveling or getting worse. One study found cells of a woman's only child - and her only known pregnancy - a son, who was 51 years old at that time, in her body. And, when the mother dies, the offspring cells die also.
Aside from the various medical implications of this finding, there's the comfort of knowing, for mothers who lose their children, that their live cells are still 'with them'.
This is also meaningful for the Church's teaching on Mary's Assumption, by Christ, her Son, into Heaven upon her death, keeping her body (and His Holy live cells) from earthly decay and corruption. A Relic of her body or a burial site for her have never been revealed. If either had, it would have been venerated heavily all of these years! Others, according to Holy Scripture and Church teaching, have also been Assumed into Heaven: Moses and Elijah come to mind.
Where there will probably be a lot of impact from this study is against the arguments in support for abortion. Hmmmm... maybe that's why we haven't heard much about this….
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Lizzie's New Do!
As Liz continues to play with her new haircut, I'll try to get pictures for the blog to keep you updated. I really miss her curls, but her new "do' has inspired her to also try new looks all around, and she's so cute!
xox
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
A Glimmer of Hope! An Update.
I have been putting off this post all day, because I'm so cynical and unbelieving when I get good news about my nerves.
The last news I gave was that I'm now being treated in a clinic in Spokane, called Spine Team Spokane. They specialize in non-surgical therapies for spines, backs, nerves, bones, muscles, etc. They go over your MRIs (I've had 3) and diagnose your symptoms using your MRIs and your input and an exam that includes a lot of physical testing. They not only have a medical doctor running the clinic, all of the doctors (there are 3) and the Physician Assistant, are Board Certified, and each has many years experience.
Their Physical Therapists are 'McKenzie'
certified, and in the case of my PT, he is a McKenzie Diplomat (highest you can go). McKenzie trained PTs are highly regarded and trained to get results - go to the Spine Team website and you can look up 'Treatment', then 'Physical Therapy': SpineTeamSpokane
Anyway, I was diagnosed by Spine Team with several problems, each will be dealt with separately, but none of them require surgery, and I have no bulging discs, or nerves being pressed by bulging discs, according to them and the Doctor's reports that came with the MRIs - BY THE WAY, which I never saw, (I saw someone else's) or had the reports read to me. In fact, the MRIs I saw after mine were taken, were very different from the MRIs I saw - by accident - at the other place 5 months later. Since I've stopped the decompressions, tractions and in general the bone treatments, the pain has reduced, and with the new PT and some injections in my shoulders (my upper body diagnosis), I have a 70% reduction in pain.
In a nut shell, and because I can't remember medical names, I can say basically, I have been diagnosed with shoulder(s) muscles that are injured and impinging on my nerves which effect my arms and hands, upper legs, ears, mouth, eyes, etc. This very symptomatic soft tissue injury makes a lot more sense considering my garden accident.
My lower legs in the hip area have caused symptoms in my lower back, feet (numbness that is worse the longer I stand) and sciatica on both sides for years - I have finally been told after all these years, that the main nerve does not got through it's proper area and is chronically swollen. No wonder chiropractic never worked on my lower back!
I also have a treatable form of vertigo (ugh!) and Trigger Finger! What a mess I am.
What this means is that I'm still very symptomatic but the shoulder/back related pain is better and some of the symptoms are coming and going, instead of everything getting worse,
or staying bad.
But today, the really good news that I'm having trouble allowing myself to get excited about, is that when I had my right shoulder injected today (to make the inflammation go down so I could tolerate physical therapy better), it was done - as the left shoulder was done a couple weeks ago - using a sonogram so the injection area could be better seen and would be more accurate; this time I saw and the PA could see an inflamed area near the shoulder area that wasn't normal. When he injected the area and dug (!) around - my fingers, elbow, neck, lips - in short, my symptom areas were buzzing and/or had pins and needles.
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| I am going to get back to normal, and I'll get a new limo too! |
I felt like maybe they were right and I really am not crazy! WELL, I won't go that far… I have exercises and other work to do, but I was so relieved to see that inflammation!
More as I PROGRESS!
xox
Anniversaries of the Heart and The Little Sheep Flock
It's hard to believe that the holidays have flown past and I am back working on the 'Anniversaries' cross stitch. Here's Mom's block in picture form, before I ripped the roof out.
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| Ripping... |
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| Adding new roof... |
While I was waiting for Judy to begin the Little Flock, I ripped out some eyelets I cross stitched and didn't like, on Mom's 'Anniversary' block on the roof, then just straight cross stitched the roof with the red color the pattern called for.
I also started 'The Little Sheep Flock and Virtues,' and Judy has started hers, and although I was worried that I didn't have enough fabric to fit the entire flock, 3 wide on it, they look like they'll fit after all.
I also made some sheep accessories: a thread keep, and a pin cushion with sheep pins. Love the 'black' sheep! Yes, it's the little things! Judy and I are keeping this very low key and non-competitive - no racing! Pictures of Little Flock cross stitch soon.
xox
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Little Henry
I received a really nice email from Tod with permission to print these photos of a cute Henry! Oh and his Dad!
What a great age!
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Monday, January 13, 2014
Thursday, January 9, 2014
New Year - New Look
I've been trying to find a template for this blog that's different, yet fun. So far, I really like the photo spreads of the 'Dynamic' template the best, so this one may change. In the meantime, old blogger - several new looks!
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Thursday, January 2, 2014
RIP Fr. Eric Freed
Please pray for the repose of Fr. Eric Freed who was murdered yesterday in his Eureka, CA Rectory. He Baptised Liz; and Frank and Liz were given 1st Holy Communion by him. He also helped Bob and I make a smoother and richer transition into the Church. A good man....a great Priest.
Update: They have the murder suspect in custody- a family member turned him in. CCN News online has a good report you can read for more information. Apparently, the Rectory was broken into and the priest bludgeoned to death - this probably happened after Mass New Year's Eve. No motive other than it is being called 'a crime of convenience'. The suspect was in jail and released that same day, he was combative and told by a Security Guard to leave St. Bernard's Parish earlier.
Violence makes no sense.
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