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Elizabeth
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My friend Nicole is dying. There is no delicate way to say it. Last summer she was full of life, literally-- pregnant with her third child in three years and looking forward to raising a Catholic homeschooling family. Now, her bedroom looks like an Amazon.com warehouse. She has filled it with children's books. Her plan is to wrap a book for each child for each birthday. With the book, she'll include a letter she has written to them. There will also be books for sacrament days and other momentous occasions one can anticipate in a child's life.We don't even speak about all the unanticipated moments--all the times that come upon us as grace sparkles down on a growing family and we witness unplanned joy. The championship game after an undefeated season. An afternoon ballet when your little girl dances Clara. The look of satisfaction when finally the mystery of reading is revealed and the book in a child's hands is truly his. I can't imagine how difficult this task of preparation must be. She is torn between spending her time leaving a legacy for the future and devoting every waking moment to loving them today. And now, pain has settled in as her constant companion, making even the simplest tasks that much more difficult, that much more tiring.
I am not a Pollyanna and I know that cancer is a very real and present danger to our mortality, but I am not giving up. Below is the canonization prayer for John Paul II. Our dear Papa knew the pain of losing a mother as a child. He will look so tenderly upon the dearest desire of Jacqueline, Liam and Maggie--the desire to open those books for years to come with their mommy present. Please pray with me for a miracle:
O Blessed Trinity, We thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.
Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.
Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints.
Amen
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Molly Smith
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Oh, Elizabeth, how sad. I'm praying and will continue to remember Nicole in my prayers. What an unbelievable task she is undertaking with the books and what a blessing that will be to her children through the years. Makes me cry just thinking about it...
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Molly Smith in VA
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Donna
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Dear Elizabeth,
Be assured of prayers from my family as we will all offer Mass for Nicole tomorrow. Having just lost my dear friend, Carolyn, to cancer, I surely understand your sorrow. We will all pray for a miracle !
Hugs,
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Donna
DH, Keven
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mary
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praying for your friend Nicole. My sister died of breast cancer 4 years ago. her children were 2 and 5. My heart goes out to your friend's family. 
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Angie Mc
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We are praying, Elizabeth. In addition to praying, is there anything we, as a family or as a lits, can do? I don't usually ask this because it can sound superficial coming from a long distance, but for some reason I feel compelled.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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Elizabeth
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Angie Mc wrote:
We are praying, Elizabeth. In addition to praying, is there anything we, as a family or as a lits, can do? I don't usually ask this because it can sound superficial coming from a long distance, but for some reason I feel compelled.
Love, |
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Book suggestions would be much appreciated. If you have a book in mind that you think is particularly appropriate for particular occasion, please pass it along.She's also trying to come up with gifts and such. It's a tough task because her kids are so little right now that she can't know their passions years from now. At the same time, she wants to influence them...
Beyond that, let me think on it and let me ask her...
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Jen L.
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I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. I don't know how to put into word how I'm feeling, but please know my thoughts and prayers join yours.
I have and will continue to pray the canonization prayer for Nicole.
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Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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Cay Gibson
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This is sad.
I will be more than honored to join you in praying for a miracle.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
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Mary G
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Elizabeth --
The prayer has been said and will continue.....please let us know if there is anything we can help with...my older two children lost their dad to cancer when they were 3 and 11 months -- that was so hard......
blessings for Nicole and her wee ones and her husband and all those around. Let us pray for a miracle!
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MaryG
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Sarah
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Praying here, too.
Maybe, too, if the book task becomes too difficult-like if she doesn't have the energy, she could make a list of what she wanted and we could all order 1 or 2 for her and mail them. I would say even wrap them, but if she wanted to see them or write in them first. . .
Doesn't Amazon have a "wish list?"
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amyable
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Praying for her!
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Amy
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Taffy
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Offering up my prayers for Nicole
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Susan
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Louise
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How heartbreaking! Praying here too.
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Louise, mom of 11
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Bridget
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Oh, I can't even imagine...
We'll be praying.
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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jdostalik
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Elizabeth,
Be assured of our family's prayers for Nicole and her family. I would love to do something concrete to help. Let us know if there is anything we can do.
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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teachingmom
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Dear Elizabeth,
I am so sad to read this. What an unbelievable situation to be in. She is a beautiful example of motherhood in her desire to leave a legacy for her small children with the books.
If she is local, maybe I can do something tangible, like make a meal for her family? Please PM me if that would help.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Natalia
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Praying for complete healing for Nicole.
John Paul II intercede for her.
Amen.
Natalia
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momwise
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Praying with you....and I'm glad to have this prayer
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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humanaevitae
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Praying....
Does she have both boys and girls? Please let me know if she would be open to us purchasing items (that she knows she wants) and having them sent to her. Shopping can be so time-consuming.
Nicole
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kristina
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Dear Elizabeth,
Nicole has been on my heart and in my prayers all day. She came to mind again when I was reading about St. Jude to our boys. We all prayed for "the mommy with three babies who is very sick."
I will offer up Holy Mass for her tomorrow. May she receive a miracle healing.
Blessings,
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kristina
yesterthoughts
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4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: Miracle for Nicole-Final Update
