It's that time of year again. All the leaves are turning color & falling. Our days are cooler, for the most part, & shorter. Halloween is right around the corner. Time for apple festivals, hay rack rides, & cider. My favorite time of year!! It's also pumpkin carving time! Today, I want to share a little prayer with you. One you can do with your children, a tradition you could start, while carving pumpkins.
I had never heard of this prayer but a friend shared it with me and I want to do the same. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Now I'm really looking forward to carving ours & roasting seeds this year!!
A Christian Pumpkin
Lord, open my mind so that I can learn new things about you. (cut the top of the pumpkin)
Remove the things in my life that don't please you. (scoop out the insides)
Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others. (can talk about taking the "junk" and making something good from it -pie, roasted seeds, whatever you do w/ the insides of your pumpkins - or do nothing with this line)
Open my eyes to see the beauty you've made in the world around me. (carve the eyes)
I'm sorry for the times I've turned my nose up at the good food you provide. (carve the nose)
Let everything I say please You. (carve the mouth)
Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do. (light the pumpkin)
Amen
I did not write this prayer. I am only sharing it for educational purposes. Enjoy!!
The year anniversary is approaching of our girls' baptisms. It's amazing how far we've come over the past year and a half. However, our RCIA classes came to an end shortly after Easter and it didn't take long for us to fall back into the same old rut we were in before. Too busy for this and too busy for that.
I haven't spent any quite time alone with God in months and I know it's affecting me. Of course, God is still there nudging me along. Just a few days ago, I got a e-mail from our niece saying she has met a wonderful guy, a Catholic beau, who is very faith and family oriented. Since being involved with him, she has started attending mass with her children. She enrolled her daughter in the PSR program and she is starting the RCIA program. This is wonderful news! She deserves nothing but the best.
Our niece went on to say, that whether we knew it or not, she really looks up to my husband and I. Wow! That's one of the nicest things we could ever hear. I could barely finish the letter because I was crying and I could not read it to my husband, who was just as touched.
Knowing that we were her role models wasn't the only thing that moved me to tears. It was knowing that God was using her to speak to me. I've fallen out of my relationship with Him. The one I was working so hard to build one short year ago.
And again yesterday, he used one of my blog sites to get the message through. I'll leave you with their message. Does it hit home for you as well?
It has been said, "If the devil cannot make you bad, he'll make you busy."
What feeds your soul? What is your calling? What lights you up more than anything? If you had unlimited resources, what would you be doing with your life? Over the last few months, everywhere I turn, these questions keep popping up. Now, it's quite the coincidence since I've been praying to God to help me find my calling. Or is it? Have I been failing to see & hear all these TV shows, radio programs, blog posts, & news articles? Is this the hot topic of the month? OR is God speaking to me through these outlets? Obviously, as we've all heard many times, God is not going to pick up the phone & call me. I'm not going to answer the phone to Him saying, Hello Karla, this is God, you were created to......No, that won't happen, but I will eventually find my calling.....
Did anyone see Oprah's farewell show? I haven't seen her show in years & that's not because I dislike Oprah. I actually love her show. I think she is so inspirational. She has taken her show, her power, her wealth, her knowledge & used it to help countless others. It just so happens that I caught her finale. What an amazing ending to this chapter in her life!! If you missed it, you can view a few of the clips & a typed version on her website. I have to say it is a must read. Her words were beautiful & moving. Oprah gets it. She has listened to God & used her calling to serve....Her show will be missed & I can't wait to see where she goes from here.
Quotes that spoke to me during her show:
"You are responsible for your life. You are responsible for the energy that you create for yourself, and you're responsible for the energy that you bring to others."
"All life is energy and we are transmitting it at every moment. We are all beaming little signals like radio frequencies, and the world is responding in kind."
"Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it. You have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world."
"I learned from the guests on this show, no need to feel superior to anybody. Because, whether it's heroin addiction or gambling addiction or shopping addiction or food addiction, work addiction, the root is all the same---unworthiness---not feeling worthy enough to own the life you were created for---this show has taught me you're worthy because you are born and because you are here. Your being here, your being alive, makes worthiness your birthright. You alone are enough."
"I've talked to nearly 30,000 people---all had one thing in common: They all wanted validation---They want to know Do you see me? Do you hear me? Does what I say mean anything to you?---Try it with your children, your husband, your wife, your boss, your friends. Validate them. I see you. I hear you. And what you say matters to me."
"I know I've never been alone, and you haven't either. And I know that that presence, that flow--some people call it grace--is working in my life at every single turn. And yours too, if you let it in. It's closer than your breath, and it is yours for the asking."
"Connect. Embrace. Liberate. Love somebody. Just one person. And then spread that to two. And as many as you can. You'll see the difference it makes."
"I understand the manifestation of grace and God, so I know there are no coincidences. There are none. Only divine order here."
-Oprah
Today's song is one that I have just recently found. I have fallen in love with the words & I feel it fits perfectly for today's topic....your calling....
CAUTION: this post is about bodily parts, pooping & all the other lovely natural things that go on with the body. Just know you've been warned.
If you've been a follower of the blog for awhile or if you've checked out the other pages on my blog, you'll know that I have Pelvic Organ Prolapse. You'll know that I worry for my girls' future. Not how it will turn out, well of course I worry about that too, but I worry about them developing what I have. Yesterday was the most sickening day I've had. My middle child's rectum prolapsed! That is NOT the same thing as POP, but very similar. Instead of her female organs, it was her rectum. I knew what it was right away because I've researched "prolapses" so much. My heart sunk so low......
My oldest, RD, was taking my middle, Gala, to the bathroom. Something they have been trying out the last few weeks. Buddies in the bathroom...what can I say, they're girls. They were in there just a few minutes when RD comes out to ask me to wipe Gala. She had a BM & RD will not wipe her if she's had one. Can't say I blame her. I don't like the task myself. At first glance, I thought she had extra poo hanging from her bum but when I went to "knock" it off, I knew what it was. I was shocked. I kept thinking...No, really? Really? REALLY??
After that, I just knew I had to get a picture. What if it goes away before anyone gets here? No one would believe what I was seeing if they didn't have proof & I didn't wanna sound like a nut & tell everyone I knew without a doubt is was a prolapsed rectum. Oh, there goes Karla again with her self diagnosis....With lots of panic in my voice I asked RD to grab me my camera & the phone. RD had 100 questions. You know how it is with little kids. What's going on? Why do you want the camera? What's wrong with Gala? Why is there an emergency? Talk about heightened stress trying to answer these questions! However, when it comes to my girls, I always answer as honestly as I can.
On one hand, I didn't know if I should move Gala & on the other, I knew the gravity of just sitting on a toilet was NOT good either. WHAT TO DO??!! RD couldn't find the camera so as calmly as I could I explained where it was. Then she couldn't reach it. Again, calmly but a little more rattled I asked her if she could find a stool or chair. Finally here she comes with both in hand & tells me, matter of factly, that we should call Daddy. Daddy is the hero of the house. If there is a crisis, she needs him called. Not in a few minutes, NOW....but she's always so, IDK, calm about it....God bless her!
I snapped two quick pictures & then called my hubby. Voice mail. Redial. Voice mail. More stress. Redial. Voice mail. Scream. Phone my Mom....tell her, while fighting back tears, Gala just took a BM & her rectum is turned inside out. My Mom says....well, I'm sure she's just getting hemorrhoids. HEMORRHOIDS?!? No, you don't understand. Her rectum is turned inside out, it prolapsed, IDK how to explain this to you! Moms. Aren't they the best thing ever? She says so calmly, well phone the doctor & if you need us we'll come right over. OK then, COME NOW!
I tried my hubby once more & got voice mail yet again. I phone the clinic, ask for the nurse only to be told they are gone for the day. Is anyone there I can talk to?? Silence...then a, what do you need? I explain again this time adding.... & it is NOT hemorrhoids. She puts me through to the relay service. They take my message & tell me the doctor will get to us ASAP....I wonder if the dispatcher heard the urgency in my voice?!?! Maybe we should just head to the freaking ER! Are my parents here yet? & why the hell hasn't my husband called back??!!
Right then the phone rings & it's him. Did you call? YES, I called! but that didn't come out. Nothing came out. Once I heard his voice, I broke down, I could not speak & finally I said what I could through sobs & you know what? He actually said, Do you need me to come home? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YES, I need you to come home! I needed you here 15 minutes ago!!
I decide to get her off the toilet & lay her down on the living room floor. I cleaned her up with a wet wipe the best I could then ran around looking for my clothes, my purse, something comfy for her to slip on & the phone rings. It's the clinic. Hello?
Yes, we have the doctor on the line..
OK, Hello? Nothing but silence..Hello?
Yes, can you hear me?
Barely...
OK, this is Dr. Blah Blah what's the matter?
Well, this is Karla, Gala's Mom...& then I start explaining & I get interrupted
I'm sorry what? who is the Dr?
WHAT?? Is this Dr. Blah Blah?
Yes
YOU, YOU are my Dr!!!!
Oh, I'm sorry, the patient?
Gala! This is Karla, Gala's Mom....
Oh, yes, I'm sorry...Gala...go ahead
so I start over....to end with..... & her rectum is hanging out of her.... Silence
HELLO??!! DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?!
oh, yes, sorry, I can barely hear you. I am almost at the clinic...can I call you back?
FINE, just call me! I need to know what to do!
Can you say frazzled, scared, sick, s t r e s s ssssssssssssssss
Thank God, that right then my hubby came through the door. His face dropped as soon as he seen Gala & he now knew I was not f**king around.......He could not get his hands cleaned or his greasy uniform changed fast enough. Relief, someone seen it. I was not a loon. I was starting to be believed....
The phone rings & it's the doctor. She asks me to explain it again because she heard nothing. I tell her.
Well, we can push it back in.
You mean like right now?!
Yes, or you can come in...
Yes, that is what we are doing. I am not doing this. I don't wanna damage her!
How soon can you be here?
15, 20 minutes tops..
OK, I'll add you to the schedule.
In comes my parents & my Mom immediately got down on the floor with Gala & started stroking her head. She knew I wasn't "just being a Mom"...this was for real! I slip some panties & a comfy tee on Gala & we are out the door. One question we both have. Do we just sit her in her seat? What other option do we have....
When we get to the clinic, we stop to check in. It never fails if I get this one receptionist, she always needs to see INS info....I am not in the mood, lady!! She is always so nice I couldn't be upset with her. She has a job to do after all & maybe she is doing it exactly the way she's supposed to....what do I know?
In comes the Dr & I ask right away. Is it a prolapsed rectum? She says, politely, that's what it sounds like from what you describe but I won't know till I examine her. I also need your consent.
For what?
To push it back in. Anything could go wrong when doing this so we need your consent.
Hubby jumps in....Like what? What can go wrong?
Well, it can come out.
It's already out!
Yes, but it can come out.
Like what? I mean, it's already out. Like more? Farther? What??
See, now he's panicked. It's not just a Mom thing. Ultimately, we decide to push it back, but guess what? It went back in on it's own. Relief. Right then, I knew I had to show the Dr the pics. Yes, I packed the camera!! Very nice pics she said & yes, it was prolapsed. A stage 2. :( not good news.
So now what? Well, if it keeps reoccurring, surgery. Reoccurring means like 8-10 times. I'm all choked up again. You know, this is not life threatening. It's not say like a cancer scare. I know that. What I do know however are all the risks involved with a surgery like this & I have opted to NOT have it for myself. How in the world can I subject my tiny & precious little 2 year old girl to it? The bad thing is, it came out again last night during another BM.....my heart is breaking....
Please, please, pray for healing for her. Pray for no more recurrences. Pray for strength & courage & for answers to find us, if we are faced with this decision in the future......
Today is Day 8 of my song challenge. It really isn't even a challenge any more. It's just more a daily song post... I almost just said the heck with today's song post but I decided I could post one. This song doesn't have a dang thing to do with the above situation & it doesn't really relate to anything in my past or present. Strike that, guess it does.....because, I just love this song. I love his voice, the words, it's just beautiful, & I do, I believe....so enjoy...
