Prayers Please -- revisited and still needed

Here's a fabulous article (ht: Elizabeth!) about Mr. VanderWoude who gave so much of himself, even unto death ....

Please, please continue to pray for Joseph who is still in the hospital, who may never really understand where his dad went or why he's gone ... and the grieving family and friends -- of whom Pa-pa had many!

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord

And may the perpetual light shine upon him

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed

Rest in peace,

Amen!

Lord God,

you are attentive to the voice of our pleading.

Let us find in your Son

comfort in our sadness,

certainty in our doubt,

and courage to live through this hour and the many to come.

Make our faith strong through Christ our Lord

Amen!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes,

and there shall be no more death or mourning,

wailing or pain,

for the old order has passed away.

(Rev 21:4)

Prayers Please!

A dear friend's FIL died today ... sacrificing his life for his 20-year-old Downs son in one of those weird, "how could it happen" kind of accidents on the family farm.

We all know Mr. Tom is partying with the Blessed Mother for her birthday but the family could sure use all the prayers and comfort they can get ... they're such a dear family, meaning lots to all of us that know them ... or who may have met them ... or who may have just heard about them.

Yes, they're that kind of family!

Pray for the continued healing of the son and for the widow and the family .... Mr. Tom will be missed!

Connie: Joy personified

There are some people you meet in life who deeply affect your thinking ... your personality ... your dreams for the future.

Connie is such a woman.

I met her a year-and-a-half ago. We were introduced at our parish Altar and Rosary luncheon. She was about 4'10", a bit wizened, white-haired and smiling.

I will always remember that smile ... it's easy to remember Connie's smile as she always smiled. She smiled at my kids when we were at daily Mass. She smiled at the parish picinic as she delicately sipped her Coors Light. She smiled as we sang "Happy Birthday" on her 94th birthday. She smiled as she told me about her six-week visit to England this past January to see one of her daughters. She smiled as she told me about the moves she and her husband made over the years, ending up here in Denver.

She always smiled.

About 10 days ago, Connie went to morning Mass, met friends for lunch and came home. As she prayed her afternoon rosary, Connie had a heart attack and died peacefully... with a smile on her face as she went to greet her God.

Connie taught me so much in the short-time I knew her ... she taught me to smile through adversity, fear and distress ... she taught me to love the life God gives me ... to trust that God will always put me where I need to be ... she taught me to see joy in everything.

She taught me to smile ... always!

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord

and may the perpetual light shine upon her.

May her soul,

and all the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Amen.

Connie, I will always remember your smile!