My delicious morning

Coffee is a beautiful ritual to tell yourself ...I love you. To hear it brewing, smell it and anticipate it are so much fun. My favorite part is preparing the blonde and sweetness aspect and stirring it all in...such an event. Then sipping til it cools just til perfect. And if you could see the view I have from my hospital bed of the city and mountains you would be jealous of me. Garden of the Gods is perfectly framed in the window. I'm having a lovely morning.

Cheers!

Susan

St Patrick's Breastplate Prayer

 I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.

By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Dear family and friends,

 

this week we reached a milestone in Susan’s battle with breast cancer. She was diagnosed with Leptomeningeal carcinoma which started as involvement of the lining of the spinal cord and brain and has now spread to the brain itself.

 

The symptoms are numerous and include problems with balance, dizziness, loss of sensation in her feet and hands, and on and on. The treatment includes both direct chemo injected into her spinal canal and radiation to the whole brain daily last week and this week. The treatments themselves are difficult and have many side effects.

 

Her prognosis for survival has been shortened although we still affirm that God will have the last word on this. The escalation of her disease has now required that she close her private counseling practice and retire. Susan has been an effective and compassionate practitioner and has enabled scores of patients to move forward again in their lives in a constructive and positive way. She will still be available by phone and email to some degree and we are thankful for that.

 

We are hunkering down for battle and covet your prayers and concern. On a more practical matter, many have asked what they can do, or expressed that they want to help. I asked Susan’s permission to post this so here is the long and short of it for those of you who are sincere in your offer. Susan has some credit card and other debt that she has been struggling to pay off. She has gotten behind due to her inability to work and is starting to get those collection phone calls. We have started a fund to settle these debts and take this load off her shoulders. To put it plainly, instead of sending the $4.99 Hallmark card, send her the $4.99 instead, with a little handwritten note of care and encouragement.

 

God bless you all for your continued support and prayer,

 

Becky Comeau

 

 

A Favorite Song Of Mine

I have always enjoyed this song.

Susan