friend – hugsnblessings

double the mercy!

Published on April 11, 2026April 11, 2026 by Dawn MarieLeave a comment

What a glorious Weekend of celebrating good friends!

To my delight, on back-to-back dates, two of my favorite gal-pal Saints are being recognized & celebrated worldwide because of the beautiful ways in which they have loved & trusted in, the Lord.

Today, April 11, is the Feast day of my Saint friend, St. Gemma Galgani, whom I have written of before. And tomorrow we shall celebrate the special merits of my other gal-pal, St. Faustina!

This year (2026) marks the 123rd year since Saint Gemma’s holy death on April 11, 1903. Countless souls over the years have been greatly inspired and edified by Gemma’s fervent love for Jesus and Mary. Her heart was all on fire with the love of Jesus, His mercy, and the love of souls and she expressed her love for Him so well in her writings. Jesus was everything to Gemma and she loved Him with all of her being and because of this many souls throughout the world have found Gemma to be a most lovable Saint whom they admire and in whose tender love they seek to imitate.

Count me in!

I began praying with St. Gemma in 2009 her favorite holy hour. In her Autobiography and Diary we read that Gemma made this Holy Hour every Thursday night, in honor of our Lord’s Passion and sufferings in the Garden. She made this Holy Hour faithfully each week until her death.

For those who begin reading her life and writings (diary, autobiography, letters, ecstasies etc) soon become enraptured by her and are greatly inspired by this “Gem of Jesus”, and often such souls soon begin calling upon her in prayer asking for her intercession, and by doing so many have found her to be a very powerful and devoted friend and heavenly advocate.

Count me in!

“You see, my Jesus, that I have such great confidence in You that if I saw the gates of Hell open and I stood on the brink of the abyss, I should not despair. And even if I saw heaven and hell against me, still I would not despair of Your mercy, because I would put my faith in You. You are so compassionate, so merciful!” ~ St. Gemma Galgani

May St. Gemma continue to inspire souls and lead them ever closer to Jesus. May her life of sacrifice and love continue to bear fruit for us and may she continue to obtain heavenly graces for those who call upon her in prayer, especially those most in need in Jesus’ mercy.

St Gemma, pray for us!

Count me in!

hugs n’ blessings for the special company we keep!

farewells

Published on March 2, 2024March 23, 2024 by Dawn Marie21 Comments

If I told you, “It’s been a heck-of-a-week!” I would be understating matters.

Sweet magical Helen’s passing was the straw that broke my heart.

Sweet Helen’s quality of life would not recover and would continue to deteriorate, so I made the agonizing decision to put her to sleep.

Anyone who has ever needed to do the same understands, the teetering of thought between, “Is it selfish of me to not step-aside from my own needs to have her here with me, while she continues to suffer?” Or “Is it selfish of me to relieve her of the suffering, because I can no longer continue to watch her deteriorate?”

By the grace of God and a kind & caring Veterinarian, I knew I needed to step aside so that Helen could finally rest in peace.

I have had a lot of wonderful, loving family members and friends ministering to me in these most recent days, for which I am extremely grateful. It is both comforting & humbling to have others supporting you in your grief.

As a result, I have found myself asking “Is it wrong for a Christian to mourn an animal?” I admit that I cried a great deal when I had to put Helen down, both before and after the fact. I brought Helen into our home in 2014, at a period of great despair and tumult within our family, and I sometimes believe if I had suffered through that period alone, I might have completely fell into an unrecoverable despair.

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the day has finally come…

Published on November 12, 2023November 18, 2023 by Dawn MarieLeave a comment

Words to encourage you:

“There was a day when I died; died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my bretheren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”
George Muller