The Priests sing 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'

Merry, Merry Christmas!!!!

We are now in the Christmas season, what a beautiful time of the year.  Although the weather may not indicate it the Church readings and prayers certainly do.  During this octave of Christmas we celebrate many different feasts such as the feast of the Holy Family, St. John's feast day as well as the feast of the Holy Innocents.  There is much to reflect on and give thanks and glory to God for His goodness.  There is a different scene however out in the world.  The decorations are down, the sales on Christmas items left in a pile are front and center in most stores on clearance, and the joy of the newly born king has been forgotten.  As we reflect on the birth of the Savior the Church is so wise in celebrating the incarnation of God becoming man for an octave rather than just one day.  We are reminded during this week of those who lived and died for Christ, from the newly born in the Holy Innocents, to St. John who rumor has it lived well past 100.  Each of those who lived and died for Christ made sure to be mindful of what God did for them, not just for one day but for all eternity in stooping so low as to become a helpless child. 
Our faith is a gift.  And, at this time of giving we can be receptive of His gift of himself to us at Christmas, have we truly prepared for him, and are we rejoicing this week for the Love of God in sending His Son in order to redeem us and and call us to be with Him forever.
"Joy to the World, the Lord is come!!"  Leave your decorations up, visit with family and friends and tell them you love them, assist those who need your help.  Pray and thank God for this season and welcome Him into your life, and remember all of the wonderful things he has done for you.
The Murray Clan wishes you all a very blessed and Holy Christmas!!!

World Champion San Francisco Giants Fans!!

A time for waiting... a time for hope...

Yes, Advent is upon us.  We are awaiting the birth of the Savior, we are waiting, preparing the way, and anxious.

Claire has been home for two weeks and we are so glad to have her out of the hospital.  Still, we recently saw the orthopaedic surgeon and Claire had a scoliosis x-ray.  Her scoliosis has progressed and  her spine has slowly developed into an s-shape.  This deformity can cause damage to her organs as well as further complications to her spine and nervous system.  We know that straightening her spine is crucial right now and the Orthopaedist concurs.  Yet, he has not let us know the date of the surgery.  He plans to place more rods and screws from her pelvis up to her mid-back where the current rods are holding up and straightening her neck.  This area is more healthy bone given she did not undergo radiation in that area; the fusion of bone and hardware should heal rather quickly, but be very painful.  Claire has already had two previous spinal fusion surgeries, she is very familiar with it and not looking forward to the experience. Yet she is anxious to have this curvature corrected, to have this surgery behind her.  Claire wants to have the surgery and move on with her life, and school, and the future.
We saw the surgeon last week and still do not have a surgery date.  There are many different specialists involved in her care - the neurosurgeon, the orthopaedic surgeon, the plastic surgeon, not to mention the oncologist and the neurologist that all help to care for her total health.  We are very blessed to have so many dedicated and compassionate surgeons and specialists monitoring and assisting in such delicate procedures.  We also maintain hope because the Orthopaedist mentioned that she may regain some of her leg functioning once her spine is straightened.  This is our prayer as we wait in this joyful season of Hope for our Savior to come.  We pray for His healing touch, we hope for success, we wait for a date and we are anxious for results. 
There are always so many things to pray for, so many opportunities in our lives need prayer, members of our family who need prayer, our friends need prayer, the Church needs prayer,  the world needs prayer.  We are so thankful to so many who keep Claire and the Murray family among their prayer lists.  Be assured of our prayers for all of you who have been so generous in praying for us.
Once we have a date for the surgery and the next step we will certainly post it.  But in the mean time we wait.... and always have hope...

Claire is home!!!

Thank you for your prayers.  Claire came home from the hospital today, she is still on IV antibiotics through a picc line in her arm.  She takes antibiotics every six hours and a stronger dose than she would receive in a capsule.  This should clear up a majority of the infection and hopeflully prepare her for the spinal fusion surgery in a few weeks.  The plastic surgeon who closed during the surgery, and is wonderful, assured us that the surgery would prevent the pressure ulcers from occuring again and allow her back to heal. 
We are so grateful to have her home in time for Thanksgiving.  What a Blessing and we are so Thankful!    May God continue to bless you for your generous prayers and kindness.
Happy Thanksgiving to All.

Claire Update

Claire had exploratory surgery on her back yesterday in order to uncover the wound and to do cultures for infection.  Both the orthopedic surgeon and the plastic surgeon noted that the infection had not covered the hardware and looked to be more local.  They also discovered she had a pressure ulcer where the last screw head was located.  The scoliosis in her back has progressed and as a result the rods and screws are pushing from the inside out.  That is what created the pressure ulcer. 
The future?  They are doing cultures to see what type of infection is growing, and what kind of antibiotics to treat the infection.  Given the results of the cultures will determine the next step.  Claire will need another spinal fusion to extend the hardware from mid-back down to her pelvis.  This will correct the scoliosis progression as well as relieve the pressure from the hardware that is occurring within.  We also hope and pray that with the spinal correction she may regain some strength in her legs and arms.  So, we wait to see what kind of infection to determine when she can have another spinal fusion.  Although the surgery to correct the scoliosis would be very hard and very painful for Claire, the family believes it will benefit her and her future.  We are praying for a quick and painless recovery from this surgery, so that she can come home for Thanksgiving.  We pray that she will be able and ready to have surgery in the next few weeks, we pray for it's success as well as steady healing and recovery.  We pray that the surgery will be completed and recovered in time for Christmas with the family.
We ask for your prayers as well. We implore our Lady as well as all of the Saints and Angels in heaven to storm heaven for Claire.  We have been so Blessed by your prayers.  And, we ask for your continued prayers.  May our Lord continue to bless you for your kindness and generosity.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Prayers needed for Claire

Claire is back in the hospital.  She returned last week with a  multitude of complications.  She has an infection, open wounds on her back that are not healing, a lump forming on her back that could be from the scoliosis or from wound infection.  She also has pressure sores on her heals because she cannot move her legs the pressure from keeping them immobile formed blisters and sores that are not healing.  Her broviak was removed over two weeks ago, and looked so promising for her continued improvement.  Yet with this latest hospital stay in order to have her take the strong coarse of antibiotics she needs a central vein, so a pik-line was placed back in her arm.  Which did cause her alot of distress and pain. 
Claire is very delicate, her bones, her skin are much more fragile than before. When Claire returns home she will need a hospital bed and special precautions to allow her body to heal. 
She may need surgery this week, to correct the issues in her back.  She may need future surgery to help with the weakness in her arms.  The neurosurgeon is not sure he can prevent further deterioration.  This may lead to loss of her arm function as well as her diaphragm and the need for a ventilator.
The Murray clan is taking all this one day at a time.  Claire's spirits are good, we feel that God is faithful.  Our Mother Mary has been so generous to us, Claire will persevere through this and certainly recover with your prayers. 
Please continue to keep her in your prayers.  It is profoundly obvious that these prayers sustain, and comfort Claire.  Without them, I am not sure where she and her family would be.
Thank you all for your kindness.
God Bless you.
Our Lady of Lourdes pray for us.

Matthew on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibhTMyyaChA

For the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz in September of this year, Jeremy Santos and some of the other seminarians of St. Patrick's in Menlo Park did an excellent job in the music video describing the life and martyrdom of San Lorenzo.  There is beautiful footage of the seminary as well as the seminarians, and Matthew is one, portraying the other martyrs who were killed along with San Lorenzo when they would not renounce their faith.
Make sure to watch until they end, it becomes very comical. Enjoy!!

The Giants trump Halloween!!!

I am not much of a Giants fan, nor a baseball fan, or even a sports fan for that matter.  But, over the last few months the Murrays have been sweatin' over the World Series and the Giants.  Well they are now the World Champions!! And, I was never more thankful for Giant's baseball then on Halloween.  I am not much of a follower of baseball like the rest of the Murray Clan, but I am even less of a Halloween fan. 
I dread Halloween.  I don't even want to put up the October calendar in the classroom because it will become the 30 day count down to the 31st, and eventually melt down when the day does not come soon enough. Also, the sugar addictions become more and more apparent doing any shopping from the beginning of September until the infamous day arrives. But, that is something we can normally tolerate and live through in our home, what has become worse within the last five years is the trend toward ghoulish and gross.  The Halloween days of my past and Joe's past are gone.  The children of today no longer dress as Superman, or Batman, or a princess with plastic masks that prevent you from seeing and breathing.  No, we see young children show up at our home covered in fake blood, detached limbs, and chain saw massacre costumes.  My children are terrified.  That fear is a normal, healthy fear.  I am not going to try and tell them that the terrifying haunted house with eery screams and zombies is alright because it is Halloween.  To be afraid is normal, to be complacent about such costumes and events is not.
In the last few years I have tried to escape, choosing even to go to Costco on Halloween with the kids because I knew it would not be crowded, and of course to escape the crazy and scary happenings out in the neighborhoods.  Yes this may sound like child abuse to some, but for our large family it was a safe haven.
This year, however, because of the Giants we watched the World Series game with the family.  There was no one out beggin' for candy.  It was more akin to "Halloween what?  We're watching the game!"  What a blessing!!
As catholics we have lost our identity.  Halloween was a time of preparation for the happenings of the next day when we celebrated with the Saints.  We looked forward to the end, to be in Heaven.  Not behind to look at the events on earth.
St. Bernard tells us, in the Office of Readings on Nov. 1st:
"The Saints have no need of honor from us, neither does our devotion add to the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them.  But I tell you, when I think of them,  I feel myself inflamed with a tremendous yearning....We long to share in the citizenship of heaven."
This is the message we try to teach our children.  this life is passing, not as ghouls and witches.  As people longing to see our God face to face.  I was glad for a respite from Halloween horror with Giant victory.  May we all reach the giant Saints in heaven one day, especially through their prayers and intercession.

"Different...Not Less!"

This is happy Stephen. I know it may be obvious to some, but, for some time it was not clear to Stephen. Stephen has autism. Stephen is incredibly smart, his siblings can attest to that, his mind works diferently than others. He is different than his siblings, than other children, and even different than his parents. Of course, everyone is different. God, in his goodness created everyone unique, and precious. We are not all the same because each one has a soul that is individual and distinct. Yet most of us can process information similarly and respond to stimuli in the same way, that is how our brains were designed. Stephen cannot. He cannot read people's emotions like most other children, his senses are highly intensified so even the slightest smell or sound can be painful and bothersome for Stephen and that is not the case for other children. These skills make Stephen different than others.
Our family recently watched the "Temple Grandin" movie about a woman who has autism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG6UI5BmhuA

She is brilliant but she processes the world differently than most people. She learned growing up that she was "different, not less." And, this was during a time that autistic children were institutionalized with possible shock treatment, something we all know to be archaic and cruel today. She did not overcome her differences she incorporated them into her world and informed others who wanted to interact with her about her world. Stephen's uniqueness is not obvious to most, not like Claire whose disability can be seen because she uses a wheel chair and sadly she will receive stares as a result. For Stephen, he is has no physical handicaps but if he is in a social situation he may repeat a movie, speak very loudly and hum to himself which eventually causes stares and frustrations from others who do not understand his ways of managing his surroundings. Once someone begins to talk with Stephen they are more than aware of his limitations we put them at ease by explaining his gift of autism. Some believe that we should not draw attention to the label and allow everyone to treat Stephen as if his uniqueness were not an issue. But, I believe, and am now affirmed in that belief after watching the movie, that to allow people to understand the genius of God and the wonderful capabilities of those who are different we need to proclaim his gifts, to educate and to help others feel comfortable around those who have "special needs." Of course, this is not a license for pity or acceptions. Rather, Stephen is still required to participate in his family and the world and he is expected to demonstrate the proper manners, respect and reverence he should have for God, for himself, for family and humanity. After watching the movie the Murrays were all in awe over the similarities of Temple Grandin and their brother, however even given their autism they are still different, just not less.
Each of us has been given a unique opportunity to allow others to benefit from our presence. Certainly, those in my own circle may benefit because they have to put up with me and it is their own personal purgatory, I think of my husband of course, but mostly I benefit from those God has entrusted to my care. Stephen and Claire certainly have caused us all to limit our selfishenss, to start looking outside of ourselves and enabled us to grow in self giving. Isn't that why we are all here?
I highly recommend the movie to anyone who spends time with the Murray's and expecially with Stephen, or even around other children and people with autism. Stephen is a great kid, and we are so thankful to God!!

Searching for and Maintaining Peace?

Yes, that is the question.  School is in full swing, it has been over a month since we began, and with seven currently enrolled in elementary, high school or kindergarten there is alot of activity and not much peace.  With the Fall season brings lots of activities for the children as well as the ongoing doctor's appt's., physical therapy and occupational therapy for Claire.  Peace?  Got Peace?
This chaos, however, is one I certainly can appreciate because it does not include hospital stays, surgeries, and added worry and concerns. (Claire continues to do well thanks to the prayer warriors out there - Thank you!!)
I would like to mention another book I recently completed and it assisted in helping me find peace. And as I finish some good books I do hope to mention the MurrayClan12 book club, which I hope will be a better club to belong to than that of Oprah's, and may be a better compass toward holiness, you can be the judge.  The book has to do with finding peace among chaos - especially the world we live in.
I was told about the book in spiritual direction, (I will allow your imagination to go there regarding my confession and the need for a book about peace) and after ordering and reading it I have found it to be very helpful.  I tend to worry alot, see the glass half full, and lose hope.  This book was truly a benefit.
"Our search for God, our saintliness, and our efforts to love and serve our neighbors are also frequently fraught with agitation and anxiety instead of being full of confidence and peace, as they should be if we were to find ourselves imbued with the attitude of small children, as the Gospels command us to."  This quote is from the book Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Phillipe.
The book is a quick read, it is only 110 pages but it outlines so clearly Interior peace, how to respond to situations which cause us to lose peace, as well as the wonderful Saints who have discovered ways in which they were able to find peace.  Saints struggle with finding peace as well.
The book opens up with a very crucial and pivotal Gospel passage from John 15: 5: "Apart from Me, you can do nothing."  I have heard this often, but it truly had an impact on me when I discovered that Our Lord does not say without Me you can so some things, or a few things.  No.  Without Christ we can do NOTHING.  Including finding peace, teaching children, serving others, and being a good wife and mother.
May our Lord grant you His peace, and if you need some help you can certainly look for some answers in the book.
Peace!!

Only through Jesus will we find the meaning of all that is human.

"It is part of the mystery of the human person, which is only
explained in Jesus Christ, the one who reveals to the human person his or her identity. Only through Jesus Christ will we find the meaning of all that
is human." John Paul II
Matthew, our eldest son, entered St. Patrick's seminary August 21, 2010. He will spend two years in pre-theology and another 5 yrs. preparing for the priesthood. This is Matthew's call. Although Joe and I are very proud of him, in no way could we decide his vocation for him.
The week before Matthew left for the seminary, Joe and I let him know that if he ever felt that this was not the will of God we would support him and never push him into a vocation in which he did not feel called.
Matthew immediately reassured us that he never felt "pushed" by us into the priesthood. He explained that he had never felt at peace while at school discerning his profession and worrying about what his niche was in the world. Today, after accepting the call, Matthew told us he feels confident he is doing the will of Christ and he desires to serve Christ through His Church. Now he no longer doubts his path, and Matthew is sure of the meaning of his identity.
These young seminarians need your prayers. They have chosen a path, a
narrow road, "in the midst of a painful attack on the priesthood and the
Church. Because of the terrible sins of a very few priests, the goodness and sacrifice of so many priests has been ignored." Fr. Mariusz Koch, CFR
To be a Catholic today, let alone a priest of the Catholic church is counter-cultural. It is a challenge, it can only be explained by the cross, by picking up that cross and following Him - Jesus Christ. This is the theology of courage, of white martyrdom, of HOPE!
Thank you all so much for your prayers. Please keep Matthew in your daily prayers for priests. Please keep St. Patrick's Seminary and all of the seminarians in your prayers! May God continue to bless the Church with young men who desire to serve our Lord in His Church and will soon begin to live as an "alter Christus."
God Bless you and thank you!!!

Computer trouble...

Yes, the trouble with computers is... you can't live with them and can't live without them.  And, if your computer is down - you are without.  It can be a positive experience because there is more time to do other things, but if you don't have the computer because it has crashed or broken there is an increased sense of fear given the material that may be lost from your computer.  In times like these, when my computer is down it is time to realize that all things are a gift -  including broken things.  It just may be a time to pray more, reflect more and be more thankful.  Soooo, until it can be repaired, I have had to borrow one in order to update this, I will thinking be about things to write and update on the family.
Thank you for your patience and prayers!!!

A Murray Vacation

It is not often the Murray clan goes on vacation.  There are many things to prepare, to worry about and situations to handle.  Yet, for the first time in a long time the Murray's had the opportunity (through the kindness of Joe's parents who allowed us to use their time share in Tahoe for a few days) to spend in beautiful Lake Tahoe during August.  It was much fun for everyone.  The older children, Matthew, Sheila, Kieran and Claire, were a big help given that it is alot of work, they were great sports and enjoyed being and playing with their younger siblings. We all certainly enjoyed our last vacation as a family for a long time.  As you can tell by the pictures, the lake was a big hit.  I have not been able to be there for a few years, and it is so gorgeous that it takes your breath away and truly gives glory to God for His creation.
Amazingly, Stephen took right to the beach and the water and it was hard to take him away.  Everyone, especially Fulton, Michael, Thomas and Joseph, enjoyed the pool as well.  We took long walks, went to Reno to visit the Cathedral, and spent time talking and laughing.  We had a wonderful trip and enjoyed our time together tremendously.  Thank you Bill and Mary Lou for generously offering your stay to us this year.  You are in our prayers.  We love you and miss you.
Love the Murray Clan

Marriage Blessings!

Thank you Ralph and Brigitte Desimone for all of your kindness, patience and generosity.  Our family has truly benefited from all of the help you have provided for our family with everything from schooling to marriage training.  The Diocese of Oakland is truly blessed to have a wonderful dedicated couple devote over 30 yrs. of experience to nurture and prepare marriages.  At this pivotal time in our country when marriage is under attack and decay your perseverance in the fight is truly heroic.  May God continue to bless your work.  Thank you again for all you do!  Joe and I highly recommend your workshops and training sessions and we do pray that your work continues to bear fruit in the future.
God Bless you both!

We received a meal the other day...

Claire has been home for almost a week; and each time she comes home from the hospital she suffers for a few days adjusting to medications so that her system becomes familiar with the changes from the hospital.  As we all try to help and allow her to rest, other minor details follow by the wayside...like eating meals.  About mid day last week I tried to figure out what to do for dinner, I was unsure of where Claire would be given her struggles with pain and headaches. I hoped and prayed we could get something together rather than stress out about it.  This prayer led the kind Figueroa family to our home and they brought us a very delicious meal complete with a salad and dessert.  What a big hit it was for all of the family, and how very timely and appreciated it was by me.  We are so very grateful to the Figueroa family for their generosity as well as the daily prayers that they mentioned they say on Claire's behalf.  As I have written before, the prayers, masses and rosaries said for Claire and our family is what continues to sustain the Murray's.  I am positive that without these graces from heaven we would be unable to make it together and with the peace we attempt to maintain in our hearts and home.  The Figueroa's kindness can not adequately be thanked in material form, still our prayers for them as well as the treasures received in heaven will most likely surpass any thank you card or phone call we could offer.
Thank you again for your prayers, and may God Bless you for your generosity.

Congratulations Kieran, Thomas, and Joseph!!!

After alot of hard work the Kenpo boys: Kieran, Thomas and Joseph progress to the next belt.  Kieran actually skipped a level and progressed onto an orange belt while Thomas and Joseph earned their orange and white belt.  Both Joe and I are so very proud of the them given their dedication and hard work.  Each of them practices daily and they are striving to go as far as they can in the school.  They have all worked very hard and their hard work has certainly paid off.
Good Work Boys!!

Claire is in the hospital.

Yes, Claire has returned to the hospital when earlier this week she developed a fever, a blood infection, and began having weakness in her arms.  As a result, we went to the emergency room where she was admitted to treat her infection and undergo an MRI in order to check the brain and spine.  Now she is feeling much better after a week of antibiotics and rest. The MRI results indicate that there is build up in the spine and she may need to have another surgery in the near future.  Since it is the summer, many doctors and surgeons are on vacation including Claire's nuerosurgeon and other nurses who have been so helpful in caring for Claire.
So we wait and we pray.  Claire would love to be home and able to enjoy her summer, but she is becoming very familiar with the pattern of her last year.  She is also very frustrated and upset about her return, but she has accomplished a peace that accompanies her to the hospital and she offers her suffering for those in need especially her family, friends, and priests we know and love.
I want to thank all of our family and friends who have been so supportive and loving.  Both Joe's parents and sister as well as my parents and siblings have been so generous and supportive and we are truly indebted to them.  Be assured of our prayers and love for you and thank you so much for your prayers and love.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph pray for us!

What a Big boy!!

John Mary is now 7 1/2 months old and over 22 pounds He is starting to crawl and scoot around in his walker. All the members of the Murray clan have commented that John Mary is not a cuddly baby, not like Fulton or Joseph. John loves to be moving, and if you are holding him it won't be for too long. He will allow it for a few minutes and then he wants to go on the floor and on the move. He is a hard little guy to keep up with. But we marvel at how fast he is growing and how much joy he brings to our family. What a cutie he is and what a precious gift!!

A time for humility

We have been home from Lourdes for over two months.  How very blessed we are!!!
Yes, we have had many moments of struggle, and many moments of blessings and grace.  For some it is not very obvious, but for me, after being able to examine the gifts I can thank God and His mother.
We have received so many blessings in many ways that are not seen.  At this time when it is truly a struggle financially for many people there are so many kind and generous folks that have helped us in our struggles.  Lately I have become mendicant, begging for things and asking for help.  Our family members have helped in so many ways with financial assistance or help caring for the children.  The Boy Scouts of America gave Kieran a scholarship to camp.  Sheila also received a scholarship to camp.  American Shaolin Kenpo has offered the three boys a scholarship to their martial arts class until the Charter School can pay during the school year. Claire also receives sewing lessons that we don't pay for because of her generous grandparents.
Asking for help is so demeaning. Instead, it is easier to pray and ask our Lord to help. We have also asked our Lady to intercede for us especially in Lourdes.  Because I felt that letting other people know that you are desperate and need their help was beneath me.  I want to do it myself.  I thought I didn't need anyone else's help.
In that case we could not have gone to Lourdes, or have the things we have now to live if we did not have help.  Again, I have learned that our Lord is helping us through the wonderful family and friends who are so generous.  If I do not accept their gifts I am denying the blessings given to us by God.  So many people want to help.  I should have let them long ago.  Pride has always been such a weakness for me, a weekly confession point, it is for so many of us as it has been since the fall.  We overcome pride with humility. 
We ask God for help, we pray to the saints to help.  Why not ask others for help? And give to others what you are able to give.  Accept the benefits of love and grace that come from God from those who He has put in your way and say "Thank you, and God Bless" to all. 
The Murray clan very much appreciates your prayers and kindness.  God Bless you!!