the details...

...are what make the day. i've been swimming in them, organizing life for 2009 throughout january. i must admit it felt good to turn the calendar page to a new month. now i feel firmly entrenched in the new year with some solid footing of details that have been cared for. yesterday was the feast of candlemas~ 40 days after christmas, the traditional conclusion of the feast of epiphany, & the midpoint of winter in the northern hemisphere. we pack away our nativity on that day & begin to look forward to spring's approach (honestly, i'm always looking for spring's approach, but knowing we are at winter's midpoint makes that thought a little more real :-) another tradition on this feast is the blessing of candles. sadly that is not something we find in this area, but i do remember to light candles on this feast.speaking of candles, if you are so inclined...i am begging some prayers (maybe a candle or two also!) for some friends in need.a very good friend of ours just had exploratory surgery & they found her very rare type of cancer has recurred. they immediately began her treatment. she is a wonderful wife & mom to 3, a loving daughter & friend to all. her heart is huge...please keep this special lady, her husband & her 3 children in your prayers! across the blogosphere there are several others who need prayers too...jp wrote about father reggie here.

philip also requests prayers...for his healing & for his pilgrimage.

& finally...a local musician whom we adore is in treatment for cancer too. (i will keep the links for all these wonderful folks in my sidebar under "light a candle.")after all these requests & the accompanying thoughts about the burdens these wonderful folks bear, it is with great joy i also share some good news...last fall renae posted this & over last weekend, she shared this heartwarming update! renae, i am pulling for your daddy everyday oh, yes, & a very happy birthday to you!!