A Mid-Novena Reminder!

Happy Super Bowl Weekend from the Cranes!

This past fall and winter, I have unwittingly become a football fan.  I had never enjoyed watching a football game of any sort, and certainly did not have a favorite team. It turns out that after 10.5 years in Colorado, where the entire state seems to bleed orange and blue, and having a son, a husband, and parents who do enjoy the game, I can say that I want the Broncos to play well tomorrow, and to win.  I know the names of quarterbacks, have a general knowledge of how the game is actually played, and have come to appreciate the athletic skills of many of the players.  Had you asked me even one year ago what I thought about professional football, I would have made some comment about concussions.  Now I make a comment about concussions followed up with something like "Did you see the game against the Patriots?"  I'm not dressing myself and my children in Broncos gear, but we are looking forward to watching them play in the Super Bowl. Come to think of it, Isaac has an orange shirt he could wear... My point is this: you may have an idea of how your life is going to be, but there is always change. Two years ago, we were awaiting the birth of our son, still not sure if his name would be Isaac or Gregory, and definitely not expecting the life changing diagnosis that he would receive.  One year ago, we were preparing for what we thought would be Isaac's only birthday.  Today we are happily planning his second birthday, his party, and we had professional photos taken in honor of the event.  I have a friend through the SMA Type 1 Support group whose son is celebrating his first birthday today. She also thought this day would never come, and his first year of life was probably not what she expected it to be.  There will always be plans, there will always be changes to those plans, there will always be God's plan.  And because of this we always have hope.

Bedtime! Snuggles and his favorite music box.  And yes, that's a picture of Super Girl on his wall :)

Today is the fifth day of the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes.  Please continue to pray for Isaac as we near his second birthday!  My prayer is that he wakes up on his birthday, also the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, completely cured of SMA.  It seems far-fetched, it seems impossible.  But it isn't!  You can find the entire novena here.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and if you are here in Colorado, enjoy the blue skies and break from the freezing weather!  Thank you for your prayers and support!

DAY FIVE O Mary Immaculate, Mother of God and our mother, from the heights of your dignity look down mercifully upon us while we, full of confidence in your unbounded goodness and confident that your Divine Son will look favorably upon any request you make of Him in our behalf, we beseech you to come to our aid and secure for us the favor we seek in this novena. (make your request) O Brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your  assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God, Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Saint Bernadette, pray for us.  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be Natalie and Isaac playing in the kitchen.  I love them :)