Dog Days of Summer

It's been a while since the last update so I thought I'd share a few notes on our special lady....

Con/Mom has enjoyed the summer and each day she does her laps in her warm pool with fins and a jumbo noodle for upper body support.  They are considering joining LifeTime Fitness in the winter so she can continue her laps.

I still come twice a week for yoga/visits and the continued mobility has been key in her recovery.  Check out this link/article to elaborate on what I am referring to:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28515288

Con/Mom still has a goal of driving someday so her hard work, persistence and perseverance continue to support that goal!  Having independence taken away abruptly is an arduous challenge for anyone and the choice is quite simply this: to move or not to move.  Con/Mom chooses to move and her tenacious personality allows her to move forward amidst the fatigue, pain and lifestyle change.

She is still a card shark and we often play euchre and her two bridge groups keep her busy during the week.

As we move into a season of gratitude, let's count our blessings and remember the practice of patience in ourselves and with others. Let us also become less selfish and become selfless in our individual journeys.  Let us remember the love that we were created from and let grace comfort us.

Namaste ~ MJ

Creating Awareness for Preventing Stroke and Heart Disease

Many of you know that I have been raising awareness to prevent heart disease and stroke through the years.  Some of you have generously donated in the past as well and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
It is time once again to come together for the #1 killer, yes, the #1 KILLER over all cancers.  Any illness or disease is devasting, but some resonate with us more than others.  In the past I grew fond of this organization after my March of Dimes efforts (both my kids were premature at 6 and 7 weeks early) because of my best friend, Kristy Sidlar.  Now, since my mother had an unexpected stroke I fight even harder to create awareness through a healthy lifestyle, teaching our kids and others yoga, about reducing stress and more!
If you can give anything at all to help our efforts (I am part of an amazing team called Heart Heroes) I would be touched.  No matter what your reason, the feeling of giving is always good and what you do today or tomorrow can have long lasting positive results on many lives!  You can donate here.

Con/Mom is my shining star and her candle burns bright!  She continues to work hard at staying strong and appreciates all of the support, friendship, love and prayers.  Keep them coming!!!

May peace and light shine on you and your heart forever hold happiness.  Namaste ~ MJ

St. Blaise and Throat Blessing

Today Con/Mom and I went to church.  We didn't know we were to honor the feast day of St. Blaise.  Appropriate for Con/Mom indeed!  Father Greg blessed our throats with two candles (just like the picture) after mass.  I have never had that done before.

If you are unfamiliar with the history of St. Blaise here's a refresher:

Little is known about Saint Blaise prior to his mention in a court physician's medical journal. The physician, Aëtius Amidenus, spoke of Saint Blaise's aid in treating objects caught in the throat. He was also mentioned in the book of Acts, where he was aided by animals and treated people and beasts alike.

Saint Blaise is believed to begin as a healer then, eventually, became a "physician of souls." He then retired to a cave, where he remained in prayer. People often turned to Saint Blaise for healing miracles.

In 316, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, Agricola, arrested then-bishop Blaise for being a Christian. On their way to the jail, a woman set her only son, who was chocking to death on a fish bone, at his feet.

Blaise cured the child, and though Agricola was amazed, he could not get Blaise to renounce his faith. Therefore, Agricola beat Blaise with a stick and tore at his flesh with iron combs before beheading him.

Con/Mom is trucking along and is glad to have January behind her as well as the one-year mark of her stroke. We are all moving forward with support of each other, family and friends! 

p.s. It's National Wear Red Day!  Support awareness for the #1 killers (heart disease and stroke)!

Happy New Year!!!

It's been quite some time since I have written, but things with Con/Mom are status quo. The holiday was a bit arduous for a number of reasons, but the Griffore family is looking ahead into 2017 now.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Con/Mom that my niece, Emily, took.

Behind her, is a special tree with our childhood sugar plum ornaments on it that Sue and I helped her decorate this year.

Our family came together on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day and we still sang our traditional 12 Days of Christmas after dinner.

Despite many of us getting a flu bug, including Con/Mom, we survived and are trying to keep warm in the Michigan winter.


Con/Mom is continuing her home therapy with Dad/Dave, and I lead her in adaptive yoga twice a week.  She continues to enjoy lots of card playing and won first place at bridge this week, again!

She is settling into a new lifestyle and enjoys watching the Lions and seeing dear friends.

Con/Mom is looking forward to Spring and rooting on her favorite golfers and Tigers! Meanwhile, keep the mail and prayers coming.  Dad/Dave is a super trooper and has become a super shopper as well as a great meal planner!  Change is hard, but there are new lessons in each new day. We all thank you for the continued support and love.  

Namaste ~ MJ