Yikes!

Where did March go? I cannot believe Holy Week and Easter are soon upon us...this has been a particularly beautiful Lent; almost wishing it could go on. Our 13 Hours Devotion was an incredible experience all around. There were 3 visiting priests hearing confessions an hour before the closing Mass. The processional, then, saw six priests and our permanent deacon enter the sanctuary...what a sight! I can't remember the last time there were six priests around the altar during the consecration, or Communion being distributed ONLY by priests...it was a memory I'll treasure. Oh, and to top it off, the Mass was offered for the intention of my sil, +Lilia! How great was that?? So I've been coming down all week from that high!

My friend with bronchitis on the 11th was diagnosed with pneumonia on the 23rd...no hospitalization, tho...seems folks get sent home with antibiotics & told to rest. In the meantime I've learned of at least 3 others with pneumonia who've not been hospitalized...scares the life out of me...we've had warm/cool/cold weather, which fakes people out thinking spring is here...it's NOT, folks! Dress warmly, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, eat healthy & take a daily vitamin. Common sense, for heaven's sake.

On the phone Wed. I gave my friend a double-whammy...sympathy & a dutch uncle talk: "QUIT SMOKING!!!!!" She tried to switch the conversation to another topic & I called her on it...talk about stubborn...just like I was. lol

"Oh, but I've cut way back," she says (mmm...perhaps...but the reality is, you're still smoking, Deb). "But I'm not ready," she says (When will you be, Deb?)(sigh).

So, Deb, you were planning to go to a conference this weekend...you won't now, will you, since you have pneumonia?? "Oh, yes I AM! I'll be all better by then." (WHAT??? In three days??? Come on...I can't wait to hear what that already deep watery cough sounds like, come Monday.) The woman needs our prayers...lots of our prayers, please.

Gratitude continues for my quit...it is only by God's grace working through the people in my life that I can say today that I am a quitter. There is such freedom in recovery from the addiction to nicotine--words cannot describe.

Do WITS (Whatever It TakeS), WIN (Whatever Is Necessary)...just don't smoke...feel free to reply to this post with your own thoughts/tips/inspiration for nic addicts. That's what this blog is for.

Have a great TGISF (Thank God It's Smokefree Friday)!

BTW, I'm no longer posting on the WebMD Smoking Cessation Support Group Message Board. Losing messages before they were posted became too frustrating...it was not a happy decision on my part, but I needed to maintain my sanity. :o)

Still a Grateful Quitter--Mary Ann

Smoked 44+yrs.; 7+yrs. smokefree (by God's grace & The Land O'Smokeless, one day/hr/min/sec at a time); 86721 not smoked; $15,610+ saved; 43W 2h 50m added to the end of my life, God willing!

Hello...

Has been a few days since my last post...gears are meshing toward observance of 13 Hours Devotion for our six parishes, to be held at my parish, Saint James, in a few weeks...praying volunteers rise up & affix their signatures to the many vacant spots on the signup sheets! Please, Lord...

Received a good report at 6-mo. eye exam this morning...don't have to return for a year unless I notice any change in my eyesight.

A smoking friend is currently dealing with a bad cold...prayers it won't turn into another bout with bronchitis...there've been too many of them this winter.

To all quitters: Keep kickin' nic where it hurts: Right in his bony, bony BUTT!!

He deserves nothing but our contempt!

--Still a Grateful Quitter--Mary Ann