Weekly Snapshot
A crazy scapular story, why we aren't in France this week, a favorite moment with my (step)daughter, and my summer uniform.
How about this week’s Weekly Snapshot!
A week of even more slowing down, hanging with kids (while a couple are at camp), and dealing with septic issues, good times.
A change of plans.
Alex and I were supposed to be in France this week.
You see, Our Lady of Lourdes has been calling me…ever since I was a child.
At first, in faith and healing. Because of some health issues, I wasn’t supposed to be able to have kids. And then, in college, my friends lowered me through the proverbial roof and we implored the help of Our Lady of Lourdes for healing.
(If you’re unfamiliar with the story, click here. In a nutshell, Our Lady (aka Mary) appeared in Lourdes, France to a young, poor girl named Bernadette. And in her place was left a spring of running water known to cause miracles of healing in both mind and body…)
Once laid and her feet, God heard my prayers and my body was restored. Overnight. Literally.
And I promised to name a girl after her, and I do have a daughter named Lourdes (pronounced Lor-des).
But the story doesn’t stop there.
Just 5 years ago I was planning to go to Lourdes, to ask Our Lady for another miracle. This time it was one that was bigger and crazier than anything else anyone could imagine. And then Mike got sick and died. And then miracles died and then they came back. Clearer, more concrete than ever. A knowing upon knowing that the restoration God provides, not only in heaven but also on earth, is mind boggling for us and yet so easy for Him. All we have to do is ask. All He has to do is will it. WOW.
And so I find myself on the threshold of Lourdes, again - with a request on my heart and detachment in my hands. With a knowing upon knowing that the result will be the end of the old me and the beginning of the new, that life will never be the same.
Alex and I planned to go last summer and then he wanted to wait. In obedience to God and him, I listened. Then we were supposed to be there this week. But something in me felt uneasy. I didn’t know if it was timing, spiritual warfare, or fear that our prayers wouldn’t be answered, and I ignored the uneasiness. But then my peace was being disturbed and so we changed our itinerary and moved the dates a bit further out. Peace is restored.
And the knowing upon knowing is that God can do miracles anywhere, anytime, but also obedience and asking and seeking and knocking will open doors unthinkable. I can’t wait to tell you what we’re praying for and I can’t wait for you to see it unfold. For now, I stand in patience.
The scapular story…
Ok, but it even gets better. I mean, you might think I’m crazy but I have learned through experience that God is in the details. I used to have these winks all the time and then for a while they stopped. (Signs are not faith by the way and I don’t ever ask for them…but when not so random things happen, I also pay attention.)
Anyway, when we were at the pool last week, Alex set his scapular on his chair (in a spot it couldn’t fall off). When it was time to leave, it was gone. We searched everywhere. Honestly, it didn’t feel missing but it certainly wasn’t there. So we left. And he didn’t have a scapular and he was driving home for a few days to work and there was no way I was going to let him go without one.
(Side note: to know where the scapular came from and what it means, click here and here. I never wore one until Mike got sick and even that story, during Covid, of how we got one is pretty cool. I’ll share that later.)
Back to the story. I knew Alex would never take my scapular so I lied (uh oh mea culpa) and said I had an extra. I slipped my cute baby scapular over his neck, kissed him profusely might I add, and he headed for home.
The next day the kids and I went to the pool again. We chose a spot under a big umbrella set against a clear blue sky, and I set up all our chairs. A couple hours later, after moving my chair under the umbrella to catch some shade, I sat reading when my (step)daughter said to me, “hey, what’s that??”
Right above me, dangling just a few feet from my head, was Alex’s scapular. It wasn’t there when we got to the pool, it wasn’t there when I set up the chairs, and it wasn’t there when I moved my own chair under the umbrella. And yet here it was.
It gets better…
I gave Alex this particular scapular not long after we were married. It has a couple medals on it that I forgot about. One is a Miraculous Medal and the other, when looking at it again at the pool, is Archangel Gabriel.
Ok, it gets even better…
The day I found his scapular (with the medal), Monday July 8th, is when we were supposed to leave for Lourdes. The Archangel Gabriel has a very specific tie to the intentions for which we are going. And July 8th also happens to be the feast of the widowed Queen, St. Elizabeth of Portugal. St. Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin) also being very closely tied to our intentions.
And it was all so clear.
God hears.
And He communicates.
(There’s actually even more to the story, details that go back 5 years all having to do with the scapular and my journey of faith. Now that I see it all in the light of the new threads in this tapestry, I’m kind of in awe…)
He communicates through Archangel Gabriel. He hears the prayers of the widow (of which I am no longer and yet of which I can relate). He heard the prayer of Elizabeth. He is hearing mine.
I know it might not seem like much, and you could probably chock it all up to human nature trying to make connections, but I know it’s more than that. Signs are not meant to convey promises, but rather strengthen faith in particular ways. For me, this was a clear indication that God aligns circumstances and timing in a manner we could never arrange. He has His ways. And they are not mine. And I am called to live the way of trust and love while He works out the details.
What a beautiful reminder.
This coming Tuesday (July 16) is the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the day commemorating when we received the scapular. And I have seen the scapular pick up steam in both the Catholic world and the secular one, for this one piece of clothing I wear (whether my mini one or Alex’s this past week) has sparked more faith conversations and intrigue with random people than anything else in recent time.
Plus, this coming feast day on Tuesday is the suspected day that more restrictions on the Latin Mass are expected to be released. I haven’t spoken much publicly on my thoughts and opinions regarding all of it (especially as a Traditional Catholic myself) but it all is intertwined, nothing arbitrary. We may have everything taken away and may be left with very few concrete aspects of our faith towards the end of this time, but we will be left with the powerful aids of Our Lord, as reminders that He not only never leaves His children but also will use simple means to draw even more faithful souls to Himself through the darkness.
Favorite moment of the week.
Playing tennis with my (step)daughter. We had such a blast. I think we’ll try to pick it up when we get home. She used to play a bit and I’m not too shabby and we kind of have crazy fun being active with our kids (beach volleyball, badminton, football, kickball games…we’re not competitive yikes lol). Plus we enjoyed the people watching (like the guy next to us bragging about golfing at Pebble Beach and how the tennis ball bounces different at higher altitudes haha).
Instead of sweats...
I’ve been living in linen basically all summer so far. I’m trying to switch to natural fabrics (lessening my toxic load so I can fight my cancer better) and I’m staying out of sweats - finding that this type of summer outfit fits the bill. Easy, soft, comfortable, staying cool, looking feminine, feeling put together, love love love.
Top here
Skirt here
Happy Weekend!
I hope you’re enjoying summer! Here’s one last picture of my past week…writing and cancer treatment, and chilling with my favorite fur balls. Cheers! Kristine
