Angels of Healing

 Christian Bale, star of the Batman films, met at the Medical Center of Aurora on Tuesday afternoon with seven patients injured in the mass shooting that occurred during a midnight showing of his new film.  The Medical Center of Aurora received 18 patients from the movie theatre shooting and seven were admitted. Four patients went to Swedish Medical Center.  Officials from Warner Brothers Pictures, which released Bale's most recent film, said Bale came to Aurora on his own. "Mr. Bale is there as himself, not representing Warner Brothers," said an assistant for Susan Fleishman, executive vice president for Warner Brothers corporate communications.

The Angel at the Theatre Vigil for the Victims of the midnight shooting--Totally overwhelming. 

Fairy Tale

The Royal Kiss. 

Nearly 23 million Americans rose early on Friday 04/29/11 to watch...
Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot.

on the Wings of a Blessing--

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a Chickadee sang. But, the man did not hear. So the man yelled "God, speak to me!" And, the thunder rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But the man did not notice. And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle!" And, a life was born. But, the man did not know. So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here! "Where upon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the wings of the butterfly away and walked on.

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

Hello!

This made me smile, awhh Precious.

Congratulations on your beautiful family Celine.

Angels in us all--

The child and the man; the innocent and the one held guilty; the joy of new life, the agony of life’s pain and suffering; this disparate experiences meet in the one human person of Jesus. Life’s dark side and life’s bliss, Jesus embraces them both, and is there for us in both.
The coming days are undoubtedly a time of celebration, of pleasure, of laughter and love and the affirmation of life in the darkest days of the year. It is also, at the same time, an occasion of sadness and loneliness – a time when ill-health or financial difficulty seems all the worse, a time especially when a loss of a loved one seems all the harder to bear.
The child of Bethlehem, the man on the Cross, Jesus – he embraces the whole of our human experiences – God with us, not just for good times, but for all times. This is the message of the angels – God with us, in times of darkness and cold, sorrow and uncertainty; God with us in the sunshine of contentment and satisfaction. The good news is God is with us, God with us to strengthen, uphold, and renew.

From Three Poems of Incarnation – Kathleen Raine

Who stands at my door in the storm and rain

On the threshold of being?

One who waits till you call him in

From the empty night
Are you a stranger, out in the storm,

Or has my enemy found me out

On the edge of being?
I am no stranger who stands at the door

Nor enemy come in the secret night,

I am your child, in darkness and fear

On the verge of being.
Go back, my child, to the rain and storm,

For in this house there is sorrow and pain

In the lonely night.
I will not go back for sorrow or pain,

For my true love weeps within

And waits for my coming.
Go back, my babe, to the vacant night

For in this house dwell sin and hate

On the verge of being.
I will not go back for hate or sin,

I will not go back for sorrow or pain,

For my true love mourns within

On the threshold of night.

~

Reach out during this 'holy-day' season; to those whom might need comfort, clothes, food, shelter, money, healing, or an encouragement to go on --the holidays are upon us, and tough for some and less bearable by others-- reach out with your fortune of heart to help thy with less...

All about Him

When it's all about Him and not about me- I can live on little and give much.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I can adopt many and love more.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I can care less about pleasing others and care much about pleasing Him.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I can love without expecting to be loved back.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I can open my home and my heart regardless of our differences.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I can let go of my plans- knowing His are always better.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I care less about how my hair looks and care lots about how my heart looks.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I can have peace during the unknowns- trusting He does know.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I worry less about the risk and more about just surrendering.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I allow myself to be vulnerable, knowing my experiences can help someone else.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I can be content in my circumstances knowing He allowed them to be.
When it's all about Him and not about me- I can be assured success- regardless of the outcome.

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30
Originally Posted by Amy @ Be The Change! On Sept.16,2010

This made my day!

Awwhh, she is a beautiful women inside and out, & he is just an adorable, gorgeous little bitty love chunk of a baby boy. How awesome!

Congratulations Sandra.

Cancer is REAL; "HELP ME LIVE"!

What People Are Saying About Help Me Live...

"If you or a loved one is struggling with cancer, don't be without Hope."David Spiegel, MD, director of the Stanford University Center on Stress and Health, author of Everyone's Guide to Cancer Survivorship "A superb book.

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Patients with cancer often say to me, 'It's bad enough to have cancer, but would you BELIEVE what someone said to me the other day?' Those expressions are often not easily forgotten, when they caused either pain or joy. I really like Lori's use of these common expressions as the base for suggesting good etiquette and kind manners in talking to someone who has a serious illness."-Jimmie Holland, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, author of The Human Side of Cancer.

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"With grace and good humor, Hope tells us what we all should know about facing this life-altering disease. Extraordinarily moving and helpful, this book is essential reading for cancer patients as well as their families and friends."-Marc Silver, author of Breast Cancer Husband and former U.S. News & World Report editor.

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"Lori Hope's masterful storytelling and clear explanations are invaluable for cancer survivors, helping you understand (and forgive) others' hurtful words and actions, and encouraging you to direct family and friends to responses that help. This book is a gift for caregivers and everyone who knows someone who is going through illness, helping you understand what helps or hurts (and why), but most important of all, showing you how to listen and care in healing ways."-Wendy S. Harpham, MD, author of Happiness in a Storm and Diagnosis: Cancer.

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"As an oncology nurse with over 14 years experience I have learned many "truths" by listening to my clients. When I read Lori's book I found myself nodding my head in recognition of many of these truths. She writes exquisitely of the emotions and the roller coaster ride of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. As a nurse educator I plan to share this book with my students to try and give them some insight into the common experiences that many cancer patients have, as well as the uncommon ones. Thank you, Lori, for creating such a powerful tool for learning."-Patricia Reilly, California State University School of Nursing.

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"Even though I am a 20-year survivor, I needed to be reminded about what people in the throes of cancer need, and Lori Hope's book is perfect."-Kathy La Tour, Cure Magazine Editor-at-Larg.

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"If the family and/or friends, co-workers, and/or employers of a one of my fellow cancer survivors may well be simpering,...while speaking to me thus, 'I would visit him or her with cancer, but I just cannot and I simply will not because I just do not know what to say,' then I would simply, privately, and quietly recommend that they read this text!"- Josh Grossman, M.D., FACP, Colonel (r), U.S. Army Medical Corps.

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"Filled with warmth, humor, compassion and love, Lori Hope guides us through her own experience with cancer and those of the individuals she interviewed. The advice, comments and suggestions contained within Help Me Live are meaningful and valuable to cancer patients, their families, friends, caregivers, physicians, and therapists as well as any compassionate individual living in a society with other human beings. Lori's hopeful and melodic voice sings throughout."-Jo Ellen Lezotte, The Cancer League, Inc. Past President.

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"As a two-time survivor of breast cancer and a journalist, I found Help Me Live to be informative, touching, and even funny and when it comes to cancer, you need a sense of humor. The author also certainly lives up to her name: Her own personal story of cancer and the stories of others give you hope. The book provides a valuable service of what you should and shouldn't say to cancer patients."-Laura Marquez, ABC News correspondent.

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"Help Me Live is realistic but upbeat. Drawing on her experience, those of many others with cancer, and that of a number of leading health professionals, Lori provides sensible and sensitive guidelines for helping those with cancer and their families to live better. If you or a loved one is struggling with cancer, don't be without Hope."-David Spiegel, MD, Stanford University, author of Living Beyond Limits.

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"If I could have given copies of the book to my friends and family, it would have saved me countless tense and unhappy moments."-Karin Roosa, breast cancer survivor.

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"Every family touched by cancer should read this book. Too often, people who have cancer are seen more as bearers of the disease than as who they actually are. That can leave them feeling isolated, hurt, and angry. Lori Hope's Help Me Live, addresses this phenomenon with suggestions that are wise, clear, effective, and compassionate to all concerned."-Jeff Kane, MD, Sierra Nevada Cancer Center, author of How to Heal: A Guide for Caregivers.

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"Help Me Live is a deeply moving exploration of the complex range of emotions that arise in the face of illness. Both patients and caregivers can enter into their roles with greater acceptance and love from reading the experiences and interviews by Lori Hope. Lori's lists of ways to act, words to say give us the confidence to enter these sensitive arenas of vulnerability and fear with greater knowledge, consciousness and confidence."-Susan Halpern, MSW, author of The Etiquette of Illness.

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"When people we love have cancer, we want to help them, but may not know how. Help Me Live puts you in direct contact with the true experts people who have been through it and offers you the opportunity to learn to support a cancer patient with compassion and intelligence. An insightful and very useful book."-Martin L. Rossman, MD, author of Fighting Cancer from Within.

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""Everytime we read a book about cancer," said Margo Rivera-Weiss, librarian and art gallery curator of the [Women's Cancer] resource center, "it gets into 'what is this treatment, what is that treatment' (Those books) don't get into how to be there for your friend, how to be there for my wife. Lori has written that book."-San Francisco Chronicle"I really enjoyed your words. Nine months ago I was diagnosed with what appeared to be a cancerous tumor on the pancreas. I went throught a very scary time and really thought I was going to die based on what my doctor had told me. Fortunately the tumor [was] benign. I thought I was going to die when in battle in Vietnam and it was not as bad as this situation. Anyway, I want to thank you for your inspiring words."-D.R.
Photo by Laura Turbow -->© 2010 Lori Hope

Storing Up Treasures

Love is an action word.

Love doesn't sit idle.

Love doesn't wait until there is enough money.

Or until all it's ducks are in a row.

Love doesn't worry about reputations.

Love doesn't weigh the cost or avoid sacrifice.

Love doesn't hunker down on the couch with remote in hand, feeling sorry for what it has just witnessed, but never doing anything about it or out of it.

Love doesn't shrug it's shoulders and let someone else do the work.

Love doesn't turn a blind eye because the problems are too deep and too wide to ever make a difference.

Love doesn't say "I am not called".

Love is an action word.

Originally Posted by Courtney on Jan. 24, 2010
Please read her entire post; Courtesy of her public blog at:
http://www.storinguptreasures.com/2010/01/love-is-action-word.html http://www.storinguptreasures.com/

Life Everlasting

Eternal Life: Kira is Our Glory of an Angel.

Glowing for Eternity in Our Heart, Mind, Soul, Spirit and Our Heaven.

Saving us from ourselves; and leading us towards Family and Faith.

The family Kira brought us.

This is the story of our family: Our son born to us, almost 10 years ago, and Our daughter who was born to us~ as she rests in heaven before us. They have both blessed our lives and souls as their humbled parents. We now continue our journey to family forever, to adopt our 3 beloved children. Our daughter is from Guangdong, China ~ 2008 and we are returning to adopt Our oldest son and Our oldest daughter from Henan, China ~ 2009. As we enjoy parenthood we continue to rejoice in the trials, triumphs, blessings, and God's plan, that led us halfway around the world to add to our cherished family. This is our family we share with you, as friends and family alike.

Quote

As I think of Kira each day, a quote came to me through an email from a working partner of our adoption process of our second son's approval verification.

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet Is fighting some kind of battle." author unknown

The tag line in her e-mail signature, really talked to me. When Kira was sick, so many families and individuals reached out to us. Some families felt the desire to help, talk, pray, heal, hold or just listen... because they too were "fighting a battle". Some had family members; their own sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, spouses, parents, siblings, or even just a close friend whom had lost their battles to cancer, some still were fighting the battles. Others lost their children, or loved one(s) to something other than cancer, & beyond the comprehension of why and our humble mortal control. And the battle continues... It (the battle) may look different after the loss of the loved one. It manifests into coping, grieving, going on, surviving, never forgetting, always remembering, always loving, & living for the better of all humanity.

Others that came in contact with us through Kira; just wanted us to know that they loved her. Kira's battle blended with their own personal battles for faith, love, hope, & joy. The same thoughts occurred to us, each time someone stepped forward to share, console, or love us & to love the "Kira" in their life.
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet Is fighting some kind of battle." author unknown