The Best Weekend!

Hello All...I was going to wait until tomorrow to post but I just can't!  I just got home from dinner out to celebrate and I'm beaming with excitement.  So here we go...

So first was Confession.  It was amazing!  I was so nervous waiting in line, so I made dh go before me.  The priest who was doing it that day was new and I had never met him.  When dh walked out he gave me a thumbs up.  I almost started laughing.  The minute I walked in his voice was so calming.  I knelt and before he even began I started to cry.  He had to ask me 3 times what my sins were because I couldn't speak.  He then said a prayer for me that my mind would be calm, my heart open, and that I would be at peace.  It helped a little.  It took me quit awhile to get everything out and I know I left so much out.  It wasn't purposeful...I was just so overwhelmed.  I kept trying to look down at the little paper I had but I seemed to have forgotten how to read.  After saying a few things my mind went completely blank.  I told him that was all I could remember.  I think it took me about 10 minutes to make it through the Act of Contrition.  I was crying so much I could hardly speak.  But, the second I walked out all my tears dried up and I felt about 20lbs lighter.  It was amazing.

Then came Communion.  DH's entire family was there tonight.  I'm talking about 30 people.  I could not believe it.  We got there early and Fr. R came up and asked how my classes were going.  I was a little confused.  I said they were great but we were done.  DH asked him if he knew that I was coming into the church tonight.  He looked like a dear in headlights.  Apparently the wires got crossed between Deacon A and him.  He said not to worry and he would take care of it.  He came back a few minutes later and said that if I wanted we could do Confirmation while we were at it.  Yippee!  The way the whole thing played out was beautiful.  After the Homily Fr. R called Kevin and I up and I made my Profession of Faith.  He then confirmed me.  He then said that he would call us back up for communion before everyone else.  He told us that back in biblical times they didn't really have ceremonies for weddings the way we do now.  So apparently what coupled did was come up for communion together.  That would symbolize their unity in Christ.  So he said to thing about that when I came up with my husband.  He said this would be us uniting in Christ.  I thought that was just beautiful.  When he did call us up the tears began to flow.  It was such a beautiful thing that I can't even begin to describe it.  I'm having trouble attaching any words to it.  I'm hoping that in the next couple of days I will really begin to be able to describe it.  I think I'm just feeling overwhelmed right now. :)

And then there was one more thing.  There was this...

Like I said...best weekend ever!!!

I'm going for bloodwork tomorrow.  I am absolutely beside myself.  Thank you all so much for your prayers...especially this past week.  I really felt them.  I felt like I was walking around in this constant embrace.  It was amazing.  I will post more about this after I get my blood results.  I just need to wrap my mind around it all.  Our God works in mysterious ways!

**To any of my family or IRL friends who have stumbled across my blog and I was unaware.  I'm sorry you are finding out this way.  Don't worry we are going to spill the beans this week.  :)  So please don't say anything.

5 Quick Takes...because that's all I've got...

Let's get the not so fun stuff out of the way so we can move on to the good!  :)

1.  I think AF is on her way.  Oh yippee!  She should be here sometime today.  It's P+14...I always start on P+14 (sometimes 13 but never past 14).  I'm not happy about it.  I was really hoping.  I was actually even beginning to think that this may be the month.  Nope...I can feel the cramps beginning.  They aren't constant yet...but they are there.  AF...if you can here me...go away!  You are not welcome here!

2.  The job drama isn't any better.  I could really use some prayers.  I have no clue what to do and it is stressing me out beyond belief.  It is not a good situation and unfortunately it seems to be consuming me right now.  There have been many tears shed this week over this crap.  It's keeping me from focusing on what's important...like the excitement of this weekend.  I think MMH is right.  The Devil is trying to cause me trouble.  He doesn't like what will be taking place on Sunday so he is trying to get the best of me.  I have a message for you too Devil...Get out!  You are not welcome here either!

Ok...now for the good stuff.

3.  I'm going to my first confession tomorrow.  I am no longer nervous!  Woohoo!  I'm so glad that feeling is gone.  I'm not going to say that feeling won't come back tomorrow when I'm about to walk in but for now I am ok.  I am actually so excited about it!  I can't wait to get all of this stuff off of my chest.  I'm having trouble remembering the things from when I was younger.  To be honest, I was a really good teenager.  I never got in trouble.  I'm not saying that I did not sin but there were none of the typical teenage crazy things going on so nothing is standing out in my mind.  I'm just going to do the best I can.  I checked into it and found out which priest will be doing confessions.  The one I really wanted to go to is out of town. :(  Fr. R won't be doing it because he is doing the evening Mass.  This means I'm going to the new guy.  We have a new priest.  He's very young...31 I believe.  I have seen him but never spoken to him and never been to one of his Mass'.  He's only been with us for 2 weeks I believe.  I talked to Deacon A about him.  He says he is an amazing and very spiritual man.  Deacon A said I will be very pleased and it should be a great confession.  I'm excited.

4.  COMMUNION ON SUNDAY!  There are no words to describe my feelings.  In fact...I'm just going to leave it at that.

5.  Thank you all so much for your prayers this week.  I can really feel them.  Kaitlin and JBTC, thank you for the adoration prayers this week.  I can not tell you how much this means.  I have no IRL Catholic friends...and DH's Catholic friends are fallen away.  I have been praying for good Catholic friends for awhile.  Long before I made the decision to become Catholic.  I just wanted friends who had similar beliefs and values. Who knew God would answer my prayers through blogs?  I feel that I have found friends in all of you and for that I am so greatful.

Ok...that's it.  I will try to post tomorrow night to let you know how confession went.  Pray that I have calm nerves.  :)

My Email Got Hacked!

Grrrr!  I think my gmail account may have been hacked.  I've changed my password so hopefully it won't happen again.  If you get an email from me that has "No Subject" in the subject line just delete it.  If you open it I think it has something to do with Canadian Health Care or something.  I have no clue how this happened!  My passwords are always pretty strange.  Unfortunately, I think Kaitlin and JBTC may be part of this.  I'm really really sorry ladies! I'm pretty irritated!

On another note.  The job craziness isn't getting any better.  I think it may all hit the fan tomorrow.  If anyone could spare a prayer for clarity and that this all works out I would greatly appreciate it.

And It's Only Tuesday

It's only Tuesday and it's already been one heck of a week!  I'm exhausted!

We had an engagement party for my best friend on Saturday night.  I'm so happy for her!  She and her fiance have been together for the past 4 years.  It's funny because when she told everyone about their engagement we all had the same reaction, "It's about time!"

Yesterday I had my last meeting with Deacon Augie.  It was basically just for some last minute info.  I've got to try to get proof of my baptism from the church I was baptized at.  I had to do this for our wedding so I'm kinda hoping that the church we got married at still has records of it.  I don't see why they wouldn't.  If not I'll have to go back to my old church.  I'm trying to avoid that.  When I went there to get a copy for our wedding the pastor wasn't exactly nice to me.  He was not the same pastor that was there when I left but for some reason he knew of me.  He had more than one snide comment regarding me marrying in the Catholic Church and becoming Catholic (even though at that time that was nowhere on my radar).  I can only imagine the things he will have to say now.  I feel like I shouldn't care, and I don't really, I just don't want to deal with it.  I don't like rude people.

I'm trying to spend a lot of time this week in prayer.  I want to prepare myself for Saturday and Sunday.  I'm so excited and anxious.  I'm starting to have trouble controlling my emotions.  I was driving the other day and just thinking about everything.  Then I started sobbing.  Not sad tears of course...happy ones. :)

On a completely different subject, I really need your prayers.  Prayer Buddy, if you are out there, I could really use you.  I can't get into too many specifics right now but I need prayers regarding my job.  I need prayers for clarity.  I'm in a really tough position and don't know what to do.  I feel very torn.  The decision I am leaning towards makes me nervous.  I wonder if it really is the right decision and if it is best for dh and I.  As soon as I figure out what I need to do I will let you know what it is that is going on.  But any prayers you can spare would be greatly appreciated.

7 Quick Takes

1.  I have an appointment with Dr. G (my Napro Consultant) on Wednesday, July 28th!  Woohoo!  I haven't actually seen her since last October.  All of our "appointments" have been over the phone.  I am making a list of the things I want to discuss with her

• We need to get dh an SA.  I'm not sure why we haven't already done this.  I'm actually very nervous about this.  DH took Acu.tane when he was a teenager and I've heard that it can lower sperm counts.
• The 4mg of Nal.trexone I'm taking (up from 2mg) every night isn't doing squat!  I'm still exhausted and I still have some major anxiety.  I'm beginning to think that my anxiety is a bigger problem than I've let on and I may need something stronger.  I have had this problem forever.  It's time to take care of it.  It's not a happy way to live.
• I was receiving B-12 shots from my primary (my B-12 is super super low!).  Well, I am not seeing my primary anymore (long story).  So I'm really hoping that Dr. G can give me a script for some B-12 shots.  Does anyone know if Napro will give you this.  I would love to be able to order the shots from Ku.bats and just have dh give them to me.  They really make a huge difference in the way I feel.
• Surgery!  We need to discuss surgery.  I know I need it.  It's time to stop playing around.
• Anything else?

2.  I need some book suggestions.  I'm done with the two I told you about (Signs of Life and Surprised By Truth).  DH has just about every Scott Hahn book ever written so I have plenty to choose from.  I just can't decide.  I'd also like to read some books about some saints.  I'm really interested in the lives of saints.  Any suggestions?  JBTC, I know saints are your expertise.  What do you think? :)

3.My rosaries are coming along great!  I have a few made and several that are mostly finished.  I'm just waiting on a shipment to come in to finish them.  I'll post some pictures when I get them completely done.  I have about 8 orders from family members.  This is so crazy!  I'm also working on one for the deacon who I've been meeting with weekly.  Our last meeting is on Monday.  I'm really hoping my order is in before then!  DH had this idea that I would buy a spot in our church bulletin and advertise that I make custom rosaries.  I'm not sure, I'll think about it.  I really do enjoy doing it though.  And coincidentally, the name of our parish is Our Lady of the Rosary.  :)  (JBTC, to answer your question, I make the beaded Rosaries.  What is a knotted twine rosary?  That sounds so cool!)

4.  We had a tragedy in our city 2 weeks ago.  Two police officers were shot at close range and killed after pulling a man over.  The man then took off (of course) and it took the city a few days to find him.  He actually turned himself in the night of both officers viewing.  Both officers were family men.  One was a father of 4 little boys all under the age of 9.  The other was awaiting the birth of his first child who was do last week (one week after the shooting).  It has been such a sad sad story.  A good friend of mine's husband works for the same department and was one of the first officers on the scene.  He is having a really hard time, as are all of the officers.  I can't imagine how they all must feel.  If any of you could spare a few prayers for the families of these two officers as well as the police department itself I know they would all appreciate it.

5.  I am fearing that my migraines are coming back.  I have always had migraines, for as long as I can remember.  I will have good years and bad years.  Some years they are so bad and so frequent that I have come close to losing jobs and have had doctors want me to go on disability.  Then I will have years where I get only about 3 migraines a month so it is manageable.  Well, things aren't going so well.  I've been getting migraines about every other day for the last 2 months. Not good!  I'm scared.  I don't know what to do.  I've tried so many different medications in the past and none of them work.  I'm also allergic to triptan drugs which means I can't take Imetre.x or the like.  Those are the most common for stopping a migraine in it's tracks.  I have also tried several preventative but they aren't healthy and have numerous unsafe side effects.  If I remember correctly, they aren't safe to take while ttc so they are definitely out of the question.  I'm at a loss.

6.  One more week until the big weekend.  I'm am getting so excited.  I can't even begin to accurately describe my emotions.  I was driving yesterday and just started thinking about it and trying to imagine it and I started crying these amazing tears of joy.  I have never in my life felt like this.  DH and I were talking the other day.  I was telling him about the feelings I get when I walk into church.  I was talking about how when I was Presbyterian I never got that same feeling walking into church.  Every Sunday I feel like I am home.  I feel at peace, I actually feel something.  It's not just a building.  So amazing!  Too much for words.

7.  I don't really have a #7...so...Have a great weekend!

A little of This...A little of That

Seeing the family on the 4th after the big announcement went great!  They were so happy that it eased my nerves quickly.  There was one family member who confused me a bit with her reaction but I wasn't surprised.  It was exactly what I expected from said family member.  You can't win them all.

We are down to about a week and a half until my first confession. While still a bit nervous I am really beginning to look forward to it.  All throughout the day I think of things from my past that I just can't wait to get off my chest.  I'm looking at it as a free psychologist appointment.  I know that when I walk out of that confessional I am going to feel so much lighter.  I feel like it will be the beginning.  I can let all my mistakes and sins of the past go and just start over.  LOVELY!

I'm still reading Scott Hahn's book Signs of Life but I'm also reading another book at the same time (I'm a bit crazy like that).  DH's aunt game me Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid and forwarded by Scott Hahn.  I LOVE it!  Seriously!  It's a book that has the conversion stories of eleven converts.  The stories are so unbelievably amazing!  I seriously cannot put the book down!  I started reading it yesterday morning while dh and I were sitting at Panera having breakfast and am almost done with the book.  I see so much of myself in so many of these people.  It's truly amazing.

Today is P+4.  My brain is already starting to play tricks on me.  If you guys could get into my head during the 2ww you would run screaming.  It's a very scary place to be.  Sometimes I wish I could take a vacation from it.  :)  Thanks to dh we "used" all of our good days.  I'm telling you though, if dh didn't help me with my charting I might have blew right over them out of fear.  He's a good man I tell ya.  So, if all does not go well I will be starting next Wed or Thurs, the 14th or 15th.  Let's pray that doesn't happen. :)  Prayer buddy, you've got some work to do.  Haha.  Is that allowed?  DH pointed out that if all does go well I would be able to find out on the 18th (do to the hcg injections I'm supposed to wait until P+17 to test).  This is the day after my first Holy Communion.  However, I pointed out to him that if I make it past next Thursday I'm going to seriously start getting my hopes up.  I won't be able to help it.  I have never ever ever made it past a 13 day lp.  Not even once.

I've really been noticing lately how much dh wants a baby.  It's funny because over the last few years he has really done such a great job supporting me (and still does) that he hasn't let me see how much it means to him.  Lately I've noticed the look in his eyes when he sees a new baby or how happy he was playing with his cousins girls on Sunday.  He told me that someone at work made a pretty rude comment to him at work the other day that left him feeling a little teary.  It made me feel horrible.  I want nothing more in this world than to make him a daddy.  I'm just so glad that I have him to go through this with.  I couldn't imagine a more supportive man to have by my side.  I really do believe that God planned us for each other.  It's funny because while at the in-laws house this weekend 3 of his aunts pointed out this very thing.  I really am so blessed.

Nervous!!!

Holy Moly I'm stinkin' nervous!  We are going to dh's parents house today for the 4th and it will be the first time we will be seeing everyone since they found out about my conversion. (DH and I are really lucky that both of our families live in the same area)  I can't figure out why I am so nervous...I got such wonderful responses to the email dh sent.  There is no reason why they wouldn't be happy for me.  I guess I'm just afraid of all the attention.  DH's family can be really "in-your-face."  So can my family but it is different when it is others (you would think I would be used to this seeing as dh and I have been together for 9 years).  To be honest, I really hate attention.  I like to just blend into the background.  I know dh's family and I know this is going to be a BIG DEAL!  It is a big deal, don't get me wrong, but I could do without the attention that goes with it.  I was hoping that I was worrying for nothing but after talking to dh this morning he sort of confirmed my feelings.  Oh boy...this is going to be fun. :)

To make things even more fun, dh invited everyone who wanted to join us to the Mass that I will be receiving my first Holy Communion.  I thought "there is no way they will all want to come!"  Although we all live relatively in the same area we are a bit north of the rest of the family and no one goes the parish we go to.  I will also be receiving at the 6pm Mass on Sunday so I figured no way.  Wrong again!  In every single one of the responses his family said they would be there.  Did I mention dh's family is huge?  In addition to his parents and brother his mom has 4 sisters and 1 brother.  All of his aunts and uncles have children and some of those children have children or at least spouses.  We are talking close to 30 people here.  Our church is relatively small in terms of space.  Although our parish has several thousand members it is a temporary building that was built until they build a more permanent building (you would never know that though unless they told you...it's very pretty).  Fortunately it's summer and so many are on vacation so attendance has been a bit lighter.  I was nervous enough when Deacon A said that before communion Father R would call me up first to receive first in front of everyone.  That alone had me shaky...but now there are going to be people I know there.  Makes my stomach flip-flop thinking about it.

Between the nervousness and the absolute excitement I think I may explode!  This has to be one of the most exciting times in my life.  Like I said in a previous post.  I feel the same way I felt leading up to my wedding day.  Such excitement and anticipation.  I love it!