In Thanksgiving for You

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Not long ago, you dear friends lifted my heart with your thoughtful birthday wishes. All that day, my thoughts kept turning to an imagined river of gratitude, its banks overflowing with your sudden shower of kindness. Likewise welling in my heart was the prayer that somehow I might come to express the depth of my appreciation for you.

As always in matters of friendship, it helps to turn to Our Lady, and she, being the perfect friend, suggests prayer as the best of all thank you cards.

Cottage of Loreto, named for Our Lady's House, but with my cherished "Cottage" theme, is a Novena reminder calendar to help me remember to pray for each of your families individually throughout the year. Every Novena is dedicated to one specific family, not to mention the intentions of "all our members" (meaning the members of 4Real and all readers of these blogs). First on the prayer schedule are the mothers who so kindly commented on my two silly birthday posts--Thankful Thursdays and Shabby Chic, along with the moms who sent wishes through the Happy Birthday, Alice thread on 4Real.

Needless to say, I hope many of you will join me in these prayers by signing up for Cottage of Loreto. If you do, an email reminder will arrive each day of our Novenas, with a cut-and-pastable link to the prayers. Alternatively, you could choose the "no mail" option, gaining access to the Calendar of Novenas without the need to receive more mail. (Please do not feel any pressure to join yet another group. We are all on computer overload much of the time. You will be included in the prayers whatever you decide!)

I hesitated before posting this fearing I might inadvertently make someone feel left out. (Many very dear friends are not yet on the list. My beloved Lissa is not even scheduled yet, because she had the audacity to wish me a happy birthday over the phone!) Then I realized that the Calendar is and always will be a work in progress, with families added constantly. In fact, if you do not find your name listed below, please place a word in the comments section to this post, and you will be included immediately.

In assigning Novenas, I was careful not to select or plan, allowing the calendar, order of comments, and sometimes even my mistakes to dictate. One example of this occurred when Suzanne Temple's family came up for the "Miraculous Novena of Grace" in early March. My inclination was to switch Suzanne to the March Novena to St. Joseph, because she is selling a house. It occurred to me though that God might have reasons for the St. Joseph Novena to go to Margaret in Minnesota. (After all, I know she is grateful to be married "to the cutest patent lawyer this side of the Mississippi"--St. Joseph ought to be thanked!) Besides, God may be letting us know that Suzanne's house will be sold long before then, and a Novena of Grace in thanksgiving will be in order!

Here is the Novena list, so far:

Mary Ellen Barrett, Miraculous Medal Novena
love2learn mom, Miraculous Novena of Grace
Katherine in Texas, Immaculate Conception Novena
Kathryn, Our Lady of Guadalupe Novena
Dawn, Christmas Novena
Jennie C., Holy Family Novena
Cheryl (Time-Really-Does-Fly), Novena to Mary, Mother of God
Beck, Novena in Honor of the Holy Name
Cheryl (My Thoughtful Spot) Novena for Church Unity
Karen E., Novena to St. John Bosco, patron of educators
Theresa (Lapaz Farm), Novena in Honor of the Purification of Our Lady
Genevieve, Novena to St. Blaise
Jeannine, Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes
Jennifer (As Cozy as Spring), Novena to St. Agnes
Cay Gibson, Novena in Honor of The Holy Face
Kristina, Novena for the Pope's Intentions
Suzanne Temple, Miraculous Novena of Grace
Margaret in Minnesota, Novena to St. Joseph
Karen (Cirque de moi), Novena in Honor of the Annunciation
Nina, Easter Novena
Amy, Divine Mercy Novena
Ann C., Novena to St. Patrick
Rebecca, Novena to St. Bernadette
Donna Marie, Novena to St. Catherine of Siena
Jenn Miller, Novena to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
Marybeth, Novena in Honor of the Ascension
Mary Beth P., Novena to St. Rita, holy wife and mother

[And those are just the commenters on Thankful Thursdays!]

Next on the list are the commenters on Shabby Chic not already listed above:

Leticia
Meredith
Jennifer in TX
Denise in Ohio
Bridget Galbraith
Helen
Kimberlee
Maria (ladybugs)
Donna Howey
Elizabeth Foss
Margaret (In the Shade of the Old Oaks)
Stef
Christine (Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother)
Louise
Angie

And, of course, the other 4 Real moms kind enough to send birthday greetings on the boards and not already listed:
Noreen in CT
Mary in Canada
Taffy (Living and Learning in the Canadian Prairies)
Irene in VA
Angela (Three Plus Two)
Marilyn W
Chari in beautiful Mount Shasta, CA
Marie C. in Ohio
Krisann (Isla de Esperanza)
Leonie in Australia (Living Without School)
KC in Texas (The Cabbage Patch)
Sarah (Plainsong)
Janette Smith
Jennifer (Mari Hal-O-Jen)
Mary Ann in PA
Becky in Michigan
Elizabeth (Frabjous Days)

May God bless you on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day! I look forward to spending the year offering Novenas with and for you treasured friends!

*******
Notes:

I pray there are no mistakes in these lists (although my guess is there are at least a few). If so I apologize and will make corrections ASAP! If you do not see your name, please be sure to comment here, and you will be added immediately. Loreto Cottage is a Novena Reminder service and should in no way discourage you from posting prayer requests directly to the "We Pray to the Lord" Forum at 4 Real.

Oh, and a word about spelling. Loretto and Loreto appear to be used interchangeably. At first, I decided to take the spelling used by the Sisters of Loretto, but later changed it in favor of the spelling more commonly used in reference to Our Lady's house.

Comments

[Jennifer]

Alice, this is such a lovely idea. I already signed up. I remember all my blogging friends in my prayers every day. I said a special prayer this morning in thanksgiving for you - you are such a blessing. Thank you for this forum.

[Margaret in Minnesota]

Oh my goodness, Alice. I am touched beyond words.

But that doesn't get this comment written, does it? ;)

Often is the day that I am lifting you ladies up in prayer--many times before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. But I have never taken on something as ambitious as this--or as loving.

Thank you for this gift, dearest friend. It is a *true* gift, because it is both a gift of the heart and a gift of self.

Happy, happy Thanksgiving, and may God bless you & your beautiful family.

[Dawn]

Dear Alice, you are such a blessing to us! I am overjoyed at your idea, and honored to be included! Happy Thanksgiving!

[Cheryl]

Beautiful Alice! Thank you. Have a wonderful day today!

[Katherine in TX]

Alice, this is such a wonderful idea. I joined the group and think it will be such a blessing to receive the reminders to keep these novenas going...and for such wonderful people!

God bless you.

[Jeannine]

Alice, this is so amazingly thoughtful, I don't know what to say. Thank you so much. You are precious, and the prayers are most appreciated.

[Beck]

What a beautiful thing to do! I am very moved. Thank you.

[Mary G]

Alice,

You are definitely one in a million -- happy belated birthday (know that you were in my thoughts and prayers that day) and may you have a wonderfully full Thanksgiving Day today!

[Alice Gunther]

You are all such sweethearts!

Mary G! You see, now this is what I mean when I say MANY *DEAR* FRIENDS will be added later! : ) : ) : )

[elizabeth]

What a beautiful idea. I'm signed up. Thank you!

[Kathryn]

What a beautiful idea, Alice! I'm honoured to be included on your novena list, and the timing couldn't be better - my mother will be having hip replacement surgery in December and I am in the midst of helping her to organise a house move, so it is going to be a stressful time. Those prayers will be so appreciated! Thank you.

Off to sign up now ...

[Lissa]

LOL--and here I am about to miss the list AGAIN because I "left my comment" on the phone as usual! :) :) :) As you know, beloved, I think this is one of your loveliest ideas ever--which is saying something! And you know that as a Loretto Heights College alum, I have a special fondness for the Sisters of Loretto and all things Loret(t)o. :)

Thanks for this. I'm so excited. :) Love you enormously!!

[Kimberlee]

Alice, you are such an amazing blessing to so many! Thank you so much for doing this!

[Marybeth]

Alice, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so honored...I am moved to tears. I have been to the holy house, my nuns growing up were the Sisters of Loretto and the church I was baptized at is Ascension. I am blown away!!! :)

[Diane]

Dear sweet Alice, what an amazing friend you are to all of us. This is the perfect way to bind our community of sisters even closer---through prayer---and I am so grateful for your thoughtfulness and generosity. It must have taken quite a bit of effort and time to set up this great work. Thank you!

Many blessings to you and your blessed family! And very happy (belated) birthday wishes as well! (Did I really miss 3 opportunities to let you know how much I love and appreciate you? For shame! :)

[Angel]

Thank you, Alice! What a kind and thoughtful thing to do. The prayers are very much appreciated!!!

[Rebecca]

Alice, you are such a beautiful soul! Thank you for this wonderful blessing!

[Karen E.]

Oh, my dear Alice ... You are amazing. Thank you for this beautiful gift, and for the gift that you are to all of us~~

[Cheryl]

Alice, this is very thoughtful. Thank you very much for including me. I will sign up too.

[Jennifer in TX]

Alice!
You are a blessing to us all. This is such a wonderfully inspired idea--it will help us to all draw closer to our Lord and help each other--how awesome!!

[Love2learn Mom]

Thank you Alice! I am so touched by this. I'm currently out of state helping my parents move and just had a moment to check my long-neglected bloglines and am so delighted with this surprise.

Our Lady of Grace is especially dear to us!

[Mary Beth P]

Thank you so much! I feel strongly that we are sustained daily by the prayers of friends. Your beautiful family is in my prayers daily, also!

Love:
Mary Beth

[kristina]

Alice, what a beautiful and practical way to unite us in prayer. This is a gift to us all. Thank you so much! God bless you.

[Heather - New York]

I've signed up. I can't tell you what your blog has meant to me. I find it very comforting, like coming home. Thanks for all you share.

[Suzanne Temple]

Wow! This is wonderful, Alice. Thank you so much.

[Theresa]

Alice, this is so beautiful! Thank you so much for including my family. You are an amazing person!

[Jennifer]

What a lovely idea, Alice! I am thrilled that you included my crew. ;)
Thank you for this blessing!

[Tracy]

I missed the original list! I would love for our family to be included and I will be sure to sign up for the list. This is such a beautiful idea. Woo hoo Church Militant!

[Margaret]

Alice,
This is such a lovely idea. You have strengthened me so much already by your sweetness and prayer...and it just keeps getting better. Thank you so much for including my family in this and the opportunity to pray for all of you too in a special way.

[Karen]

Alice,
You are so amazing. How did you know that a Novena in honor of the Annunciation is exactly perfect?

I need continual reminders to find the absolute joy in God's plan for my life, and meditating upon the wonderful moment of the Annunciation helps me to do just that.

Thank you so much for including me. I am embarrassed that I had not seen it until now.

[Krisann]

Wow! I'm speechless. Thank you very, very much.

Darn it, you made me cry. But at least they are happy tears. :)

Blessings,
Krisann