No news yet

That's right, there is no news yet.  I thought that this little baby might make an early entrance on Sunday as I spent much of the night lying awake with contractions; however, Pentecost was not meant to be a birthday in our family and I am still very much pregnant.  We had a bit of a heat wave over the past two days which drained me of all energy and had me wondering how I could possibly muster any strength to labour and deliver a baby.  The temperature dropped significantly today and my energy rose conversely.  Whew.  My mother arrives on Saturday and all the little ones are waiting anxiously for their Grandma Julie who brings ice cream, fun and more junk food than Mommy keeps around the house.  Hopefully she won't have to wait too long for her latest grandchild (no. 11) to arrive on the scene.

I have reached the point at which I am trying not to think about labour, especially the contractions that have me teetering on the edge between self-control and absolute panic.  This too shall pass.  I went to confession with my spiritual director on Monday night and when he assigned me my penance I said, "Why don't you just tell me to go through something really painful in the near future?"  He laughed and said, "That, my dear, will take care of itself.  Don't think, just be."  My penance was a lot softer than child birth.

I do have a prayer request for all of you blog readers.  Many of you know Fr. Joseph Hattie, O.M.I.  He has spent time on both of our coasts, serves as the spiritual director for the Billings Ovulation Method Canada and has brought countless souls closer to Christ.  He has been especially active in preparing couples for marriage and family.  Presently he is serving as chaplain to Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy here in Barry's Bay.  At the moment he is fighting for his life in the ICU at the Pembroke Hospital.  While awaiting general surgery he contracted an infection that spread to his blood and was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung.  The situation is touch and go and any prayer is much appreciated.  I will keep you apprised of both Fr. Hattie's situation and ours as well.