Warm wishes and hormones for Robynn

[Guest guest]

Robynn:

I must be having sympathy hormones. Last night at my favorite church

service--Taize (candles, soft music and stillness)--I was a bundle of

emotions.

My church building has recently been closed due to structural

problems (oy vey, talk about emotions), and a Catholic Church (one

block away) opened up their sanctuary to us indefinitely for our Wed

night service.

The sanctuary is gorgeous with beautiful stained glass windows in all

directions and a holy water font that trickles water continuously

(what a wonderfully calming sound). Well the grand piano, cello and

choir just put me in such a contemplative mood.

In the past, this Catholic Church was hostile to mine because of

homophobia, but how things have changed. For them to be so generous

and welcoming in our time of sorrow and need is beyond beautiful.

Anyway, at the time when we can approach the altar to light small

votive candles as we pray (with beautiful music continually playing),

I sat and lit a candle for and her family. I also lit

a " communal " candle for all my WLS co-travelers. Little did I know

that there was a teeny, tiny co-traveler growing inside you! So, she

(or he) already has gotten a little prayer from Uncle Francisco.

I was in such an emotional state because one candle I lit was for

me. As many of you have read, my left knee has given me some trouble

ever since my 22 mile run. I'm taking care and following the

directions of the coach (and I ran for 2.5 miles this morning without

pain!), but I'm so afraid of what will happen on marathon day.

I would be SO devastated if, after logging over 500 miles in

training, I wouldn't be able to finish the marathon. But let me tell

you this, if I have to crawl across the finish line at midnight, long

after everyone has gone home, I will. Still, I've taken running long-

distance for granted, and now to think that I might not be able to do

it because of an ill-timed injury just saddens me. I was praying for

God to heal my knee and let me finish this goal I set out to

accomplish.

So there I sat on the floor, next to the circular, low-to-the floor

altar, and lit candles, prayed and cried. The sanctuary has

beautiful acoustics and the grand piano's notes soared as the cello

wept lush, deep, velvety tones. After the service, my buddies

noticed that I was emotional, and so I got hug after hug after hug.

It's so nice to belong to a community where I can get a hug when I

need it.

Anyway, these sympathy hormones are making me ramble on and on.

Robynn, I'm going to put you and baby on the prayer list at church,

and next Wednesday, I'll light a candle for you, baby and .

And now I'm all verklempt (again)! LOL!

Francisco

>

> Francisco, Shell, Martha, , Ron, Cecilia, Randy, Lilka,

Connie, Rose, Joyce, , Ramona, Dama, Donna, B, Eleanor, Kristie,

, Granity2....

>

> Some of you have been friends from the beginning...and some of

you have come out of the wordwork (I had been wondering where you

were, it's good to know you are still lurking), and some of you are

new friends....

>

> But, all of your warmth and enthusiasm means a lot to me. I'd

appreciate your prayers and thoughts during this time that I'll have

a healthy baby, the amnio will be fine...and that everything works

out well. Oh, and wants you to pray it will be a girl

(something about him wanting to spoil a little girl....actually, it

probably has more to do with the adorable little artist smock he

bought already for a little girl...)

>

> Anyway, really...it's not just the pregnancy hormones....I'm all

choked up. I appreciate you all so much....

>

> Much love,

> Robynn

>