a gift from me to you

It's October, which means it's time to drink cider, display gourds, stock up on candy and press leaves between sheets of waxed paper.

It's also time around these parts to pray the rosary, and to celebrate Respect Life month.

In honor of the first, I invite you to participate in this month's Mary Moments Carnival. Visit Sarah to get all the particulars. Let everyone know how the rosary has blessed your life by contributing something by Oct. 10.

In honor of the latter, I'm offering a gift to readers of this blog: free shipping on autographed copies of my book, Broken and Blessed: A Life Story.

Many of you know Celeste's story. My youngest daughter (my seventh child) was born in March of 2005 with a serious heart defect, one so severe that she needed a heart transplant. Unfortunately, my little girl never came home from the hospital, dying in our arms at the age of four months.

Broken and Blessed is her story, and mine, and more than anything, it's a prolife story. Celeste reminded me that all lives are precious. Her life was brief, but it was powerful! She "got the job done" in such a short time, touching so many lives with her ministry of presense.

She reminded us that each tiny baby (preborn or born, "perfect" or not), is an unrepeatable miracle. She reminded us that each life must be protected until natural death. Through her we learned firsthand the beauty of our Church's teachings on the value, sanctity and profundity of the great gift of life.

One of the best lessons I learned from Celeste was that my life, too, is valuable. I have been given gifts that I must share. Life is truly a wonderful adventure, and meeting Celeste reminded me of that!

Here's what some readers had to say:

"By sharing her journey of faith through the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Cathy reveals the heart of God: he brings joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in the center of trial, and love in the depth of loss. She shares the richness of the purpose of each life, which is part of the legacy her daughter leaves us all. Highly recommended." Kimberly Hahn, author of Chosen and Cherished: Biblical Wisdom for Your Marriage

"Because your story is at once intimately personal, yet universal, I believe that your audience is a broad one - Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim, even non-religious. It has much to teach about not just suffering and death, but the meaning of life." Dr. Mark Latkovic, Professor of Moral Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit

"Honestly, I'm speechless. This book doesn't have a specific market, because everybody is in the market. Everybody needs to read this book. I want my prayer group to read it. I want my husband to read it. I want my friends to read it. I want my daughter to read it. This is the first time I've actually seen a way to get through to her so that she will view her 'ordeal' as a blessing." Patti Monroe-Mohrenweiser, artist and parent of a heart surgery survivor

"Words fail me and I find I am not able to adequately express the impact your experience and your beautiful words had and continue to have on me. Suffice it to say - this is a powerful and beautiful message and I am to think of the many, many people who will be able to share in this experience and this astounding journey by reading your book." Joanne Dupuis, RN, coordinator of the Cardiac Transplant program of Children's Hospital of Michigan

Many, many lives have been blessed by Celeste. Will yours be next?

To order Broken and Blessed (at 12.99 with FREE SHIPPING) simply send me an email at brokenandblessed@gmail.com and mention my blog.

WKRP in Cincinnati

Les Nessman fans unite!

That was a fun show. It really has nothing to do with this post, other than the fact that I'll be doing a radio interview with a host of a show in Cincinnati tomorrow morning.

If you live in that area you can tune into Sacred Heart Radio (740 AM) to hear me chat with Brian Patrick on the Son Rise morning show. I'll be on at about 6:50 in the morn.

Actually anybody who's up and at 'em at that early hour can listen live at Sacred Heart Radio's site. Whether you listen or not, please send up a prayer for me as I share about Broken and Blessed and Celeste's message. (Remember? Every one of us is on a "mission from God.")

everyday faith

I recently had the honor of doing a radio interview with Shari Guilfoile on her program "Everyday Faith." It airs tomorrow at 8:00 AM and 2:30 PM on 1090 AM, WCAR in Detroit. You can listen then (on air or online at catholicradio.org) or at her website, everydayfaith.net. Just click here.

It is always so exciting to share Celeste's story, and to remind people of her message: God has created each of us with a unique purpose. We have a mission! We have a responsiblity to use our gifts and talents.

Ask yourself this question right now. What is God asking of me? How does He want me to use my abilities to bring His Kingdom to others?

Celeste lived for four months, and God used her to accomplish amazing things. Come on, I know YOU have lived longer than that! What does he want to do with YOUR life?

Isn't that exciting to think about?

and now for a word from our sponsor

I've had the honor of being interviewed by some of the best folks in Catholic radio, including Teresa Tomeo and Al Kresta. Most recently I shared Celeste's story with Judy Zarick of American Catholic Radio in Cincinnati. I'm not sure which Catholic stations air this syndicated program, but you can hear the segment by selecting program #08-14 when you get to this page of their site. (It is also running on the air through April 6.)

Our conversation is featured in the "Living Faith" segment (about five minutes into this show.) I'm quite pleased with the program, despite the fact that I had a bad cold on the day we spoke and I don't quite sound my usual amazing self!

Please let me know if you are able to access the show. Thanks!

thanks for remembering

A special thank you to the many who sent emails and comments regarding my daughter's birthday on the 14th. I continue to be comforted whenever I am reassured that Celeste's life was meaningful, and that her memory is being treasured.

I am frequently contacted by people who love someone who has lost a child. Often they will ask me to send a copy of my book, and sometimes they will request prayers. Every time they want to know what they can do to comfort someone who is grieving the loss of a little one. I always tell them this: Assure them that their child will never be forgotten!

When you lose a child, you lose more than a person. You lose a future, a dream. You lose all those things that will not be. When the child is very young, as my daughter was, or perhaps is not even born yet, the loss is devastating. We have lost someone we have only begun to love, and we don't have all the memories we feel we deserved to have.

If you know someone who has lost a child, even many years ago, will you reach out and let them know their child was important? Some do not wish to discuss their loss, and I respect that, but I'm certain I'm not alone here. We don't ever want our babies to be forgotten.

One of the most beautiful gifts I ever received was an anonymous card that arrived in the mail one day. It came many months after my daughter's death. Featuring an image of a heart and a butterfly (symbols that spoke very specifically of Celeste!) it contained this message: "Until we can be together again, remember...my heart is waiting right here for you." It felt like a lifeline to heaven, and I treasure it.

I received an order on my website this morning from an administrator of a grief support group for those who have lost young children. There are great resourses available at their site! If you know someone who is hurting, you may want to share this info.

And share a moment with someone who has suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of a baby or child of any age. Thank you for your love and prayers!

Celeste's Video

Thanks to the tech-savvy young people in my life (I love you Lauren, Rachel, AJ and Giovanni!) I was able to add the video to youtube. Here it is.
(See the previous post for more info.)

happy birthday, baby girl

She would have been three today.

I prepared a video including photos of Celeste with some of the people who loved her most. (I'm a little disappointed that the video's not "perfect", but even though I considered reworking it this morning, I decided to leave it as it is. Things (and people) don't have to be perfect to be meaningful and loved.)

Sadly, when I tried to add it here I discovered it is too large! I'd be happy to email it to anyone who is interested in viewing it. In the mean time, here are some photos.






I would love to hear from some of my "prayer warriors" or those who have read her story. It's ok to ask for a little extra encouragement today, right?

Again, you can visit my website to learn more about my daughter's beautiful mission.

Happy Birthday, Celeste Marie! I can't wait until we can celebrate together!

a book review

Today I received a lovely gift...this beautiful review of my book on Heidi Hess Saxton's new blog Behold Your Mother.

I feel so humbled by Heidi's kind words. All I can say is, we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us.

You may visit brokenandblessed.com to learn more about the wonderful baby girl who inspired this story.