October Prayer Gathering

Now that the surgery is done and the results are in and I know I won't need further surgery, it's time to turn my attention to the October monthly prayer gathering.

This is a Rosary prayer gathering; a group of family and friends who have been meeting monthly for about 30 years! I've been blessed to be included in the monthly prayer gatherings for over 22 years, even though I am not Catholic.

My mother was born and baptized Catholic, though, and her birthday would have been on October 18th. Since her death, I've taken my turn to host the Rosary gathering at my house in Oct. This year, I will host it on the 18th, Sunday, my mother's birthday.

I could have switched with my cousin who will host the November gathering, but I don't know if I'll be undergoing chemo by then and how I'll feel.  Also, it seems more appropriate to host it this month.  It'll be a prayer of thanksgiving for answered prayers, I'm sure.

Usually, the host family prepares a meal for everyone, but this time, I'm accepting offers of help with the meal; it'll be a pot luck of sorts (although DD will come down and do some of the cooking). I haven't planned out the meal in great detail, yet, but a friend offered to bring the rice and a vegetable (she offered to make the chicken curry, but DD wants to cook the chicken curry, so I told friend to bring a vegetable).  Another friend and a cousin will bring a dessert each.  And I asked a friend who does catering to make me a fish curry.  

In addition, I asked one of my cousins to come the night before to help with the cleaning and tidying, and another cousin and a friend will also come and help.  All I'll have to do will be to sit and direct!  :D  

Yesterday, my friend came to stay the night with me so I wouldn't be alone, and later, my neighbor across the street brought dinner and played the piano to fill the house with music. 

Today, I paid 1 bill (gave to friend to mail). Renewed my library book.  Took out 1 light bag of recycling. Wiped out  the microwave. Tidied the kitchen counter. Washed my lunch dishes.  Doing everything one handed (left hand, at that! I'm right-handed.) Very deliberate actions; almost meditative. Not being impatient or fretting about what I can't do. Just rejoicing that I can do, I'm still alive and able.  Grateful to know I will get better.

Yesterday, I was grateful for:

- Daughter's friend gave her a ride to airport
- Daughter had a safe flight back
- My friend came to stay the night with me so I wouldn't be alone
- My neighbor brought dinner and played the piano to fill the house with music
- Neighbor's daughter visited on video chat with daughter during neighbor's visit 

Today, I am grateful for:
- successful surgery, relatively little pain, good pathology report (margins clear, lymph nodes clear, additional lumps benign)
- my loving, caring DD, good friends, caring family, everyone's prayers and well wishes. 
- for 1 cousin calling to check on me; another cousin calling to tell me she's going grocery shopping for me (even though I didn't ask her for anything!) and will bring me dinner!
- Being alive and feeling well.

So many blessings!  Such abundance!