Ellen Gable's Blog, page 120

Stylish Blogger Award

[image error]Special thanks to Sue of Sue Elvis Writes for nominating me in the Stylish Blogger Awards. See her post here.

She has asked that I nominate five other blogs (below) and tell seven things about myself. My readers, especially those who have read my novel Emily's Hope, or who regularly follow my blog, probably know more about me than my relatives. But here are some little-known facts:

1. I met and chatted with the tallest woman in the world, Sandy Allen (1955-2008) at Niagara Falls in 1985. I found that aside from our drastic height difference (her 7 ft. 7 in. compared to my 4 ft. 9 in.), we had a lot in common.

2. The two places I would like to travel to (and I haven't yet) are California and China.

3. I am legally blind without my glasses and was once called "Ellen Keller" by classmates (I took it as a compliment).

4. Like my mother, I usually finish my Christmas shopping before December 1st.

5. In 1979, I had over 100 pen-pals from all over the world. I met my husband through one of these pen-pals.

6. I abhor being late to anything and usually arrive 10-15 minutes before.

7. The very first movie I saw in the movie theater was Lady and the Tramp in 1962 during its re-release.

With regard to blogs, I follow and enjoy many, but here are five of my favorites:

1. A great Catholic pro-life blog by Jean Heimann, which has been around for a long time: Catholic Fire

2. A working mom, Dana Doyle's, blog, Catholic Working Mom

3. A new pro-life blog: True Love Leads to Life

4. Colleen Spiro's Blog: Thoughts on Grace

5. A Catholic author and farmer, Christopher Blunt's, blog: The Yeoman Farmer

I hope these bloggers will nominate five of their favorite blogs and tell us seven things about themselves!

Thank you, Sue!

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At the Hour of Our Death, Amen

"If you say the Rosary faithfully unto death, I do assure you that, in spite of the gravity of your sins, 'you will receive a never-fading crown of glory' (1 St. Peter 5:4)." Saint Louis de Montfort

I am blessed to be the mother of five sons ages 12-24. However, my journey to motherhood has not been an easy one. I have lost seven babies through miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. When my third son was 10 months old, we were overjoyed to be pregnant again; that is, until it became apparent that the baby was in my fallopian tube once again. I nearly died from complications of this ectopic pregnancy.

Below is an excerpt from my first novel, Emily's Hope, and is based on the true story of my near-death experience, written in the third person. Fortunately, I survived and later gave birth to two more sons.

The following illustrates the powerful intercession of Our Lady, especially when death is whispering in one's ear:

The pain in her abdomen became more excruciating with every passing moment. She sat on the sofa and dialed the number of the high school. It seemed like an eternity for the line to connect. One, two rings. Please, someone pick up, she silently begged. Hearing the secretary's voice, Emily could barely speak, but she uttered enough to make it clear that she needed her husband. She dropped the phone and tried to take a deep breath. Feeling an overwhelming need to vomit, she rushed to the bathroom just in time to spill the contents of her stomach. She gripped the cold, hard toilet, as if in some way, it would make her pain bearable. Disoriented, she thought of her baby and quickly glanced at his smiling, inquisitive face, oblivious to his mother's pain.

I've got to stay conscious for my baby, she repeated over and over again in her mind. She moved back to the floor next to the sofa, trying to sit upright with her young child next to her, while drifting in and out of consciousness. Keeping a death grip on him, she woke up as the paramedics were prying her hands off her son and placing her on a stretcher. It all seemed like a dream. She overheard the paramedics talking about what a "little thing" she was.

Too weak to make a sound, she wondered where her young son was. She caught a glimpse of her husband holding him at the back doors of the ambulance.

His right arm cradled their son's little body, while his left hand clasped his small head to his chest as if to shield and protect him from the turmoil that surrounded them both. But her husband's face. . .his face was so broken and distraught that Emily felt the anguish of a wife and mother abandoning her family. Tears welled up in her eyes and for a moment, Emily forgot her pain.

Then his eyes caught hers and he realized that she was watching him. Everything changed. His chin lifted as if for courage and penetrated her being with a look of tenderness, of confidence and reassurance. Whatever happens, I will be strong for you and for the sons we both love and for God, who has asked so much of you. He seemed to say all of this with his eyes, all of this and more. As his love reached out to her through the shouts of the paramedics and their frantic procedures, the beeping of machines and the overwhelming wail of the siren, its light already flashing, her terror began to fade and her heart surged within her. Now reassured, she allowed herself to fall back to sleep.

Emily's eyes opened again this time as the paramedics were inserting an intravenous needle in her arm. Although it felt like they were stabbing her with an ice pick, all she could manage was a wince and a quiet moan. It seemed as if every ounce of energy had been sucked from her being. This is what it feels like to die.

Then she imagined her little boys' faces, and suddenly the possibility of dying weighed heavy on her heart. Please, God, I can't die, she silently prayed. I don't want my little boys growing up without a mother. All at once, a feeling of warmth surrounded her, then she felt at peace. There was no bitterness, only acceptance, a calm that was huge enough to quiet an ocean. She silently recited a Hail Mary. . . .now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Those last words took on powerful meaning with the possibility that this could be her hour. She knew that whatever happened would be God's will, and she would submit to that, whatever it was.

Drifting into unconsciousness, the last thing she heard was "We're losing her…"

Emily's Hope is available in print form and on Amazon Kindle. Leave a comment below before Friday, October 28th, to be entered to win a free Kindle copy of Emily's Hope.

Copyright 2005 Ellen Gable Hrkach

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The Joy of Mothering Musical Sons

When some people find out that I am the mother of five sons, they often tell me that they feel sorry for me (although I can't imagine why). While I have found that boys are rambunctious and "busy" as toddlers, as pre-teens and teens, they have been a true joy.

Although I would have loved to have a daughter (and I'm certain I have at least a few up in heaven…see previous post Seven Little Souls in Heaven), I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as mother of all boys and I can't imagine anything different.

Rewind 33 years ago…I first came up to Canada in 1978 to meet my pen-pal. She later invited me to a "rock band jam session" in which her brother was a member. I didn't like rock music, but I wanted to be polite so I said yes. At the jam session, I noticed one curly-haired boy crouching down with his back toward me and playing the same three or four notes on his guitar. When he turned around, and I finally got a look at his face, he took my breath away.

We soon began a long distance relationship, married in 1982 and now have five sons (all musically talented like their Dad).

This short clip below was videotaped this past summer at the local park. Although our oldest son is not in the video, this clip shows my husband and sons' unique musical talents (with the help of family friend, Jamie Bentz).

And at a moment like this, watching the fun they are having, I am very, very happy and proud to be the mother of five sons!

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Blog Talk Radio Interview

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My recent Blog Talk Radio interview with Coral Russell of the Alchemy of Scrawl blog.

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Be An Amazing Catechist: Sacramental Preparation Book Review

Lisa Mladinich has done it again! Simple, easy to understand and beautifully illustrated, Be An Amazing Catechist: Sacramental Preparation is perfect for parish catechists, as well as religion teachers and homeschooling parents. This book is not just for beginning catechists. It is for anyone who wishes to share the beauty of the sacraments which are so essential to our Catholic Faith.

This book's press release says: "Both booklets are the perfect energizing and educational resources to get every catechist excited about sharing the Faith." Lisa's enthusiasm for her Faith shines through brightly in the pages of this gem of a book. Although every chapter is packed with helpful hints, my three favorite chapters are "Holy, Holy, Holy" (on teaching reverence to children), "Be Not Afraid" (where the author talks about how children and adults need help to overcome any fear of the confessional), and "Take and Eat" (on the Eucharist).

Again, there are appropriate quotes from Scripture, the Catechism and other documents as well as links to helpful resources.

I give "Be an Amazing Catechist: Sacramental Preparation" my highest recommendation and I encourage all catechists not only to read it but to buy copies in bulk!

Click here to order "Be An Amazing Catechist: Sacramental Preparation."

Click here to order it in Spanish.

Click here to order Lisa's first book, Be An Amazing Catechist: Inspire the Faith of Children.

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

The Beauty of Autumn in the Ottawa Valley

Photos copyright James Hrkach

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Sunday Snippets – October 16

Join me at RAnn's Place where Catholic bloggers share posts from the previous week. Please check out the other bloggers' posts!

Here are my contributions for the week:

Working With An Editor, my post for the Catholic Writers Guild blog

Desperate Plea for Help, about our friend's desperation when his girlfriend was enticed into a cult.

My Relatives Are My Biggest Fans (Photo)

Powerful Weapon The Holy Rosary can be a powerful weapon…

Fiction Friday – Review of Pro Luce Habere

Pregnancy and Infant Loss

Photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

Pregnancy and Infant Loss

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Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day so my husband and I are remembering in a special way the seven little ones who are waiting for us in heaven.

Here are a few of my reflections on pregnancy loss:

Among Women Podcast Episode 89 (Pat Gohn interviewed me about miscarriage and pregnancy loss)

Ecce Ancilla Domini, an article on openness to life.

Seven Little Souls in Heaven, an updated version of my first published article in 1995, "Five Little Souls In Heaven."

Difficult Anniversaries/Responsible Parenthood

Photo copyright Josh Hrkach

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Fiction Friday – Review of Pro Luce Habere

[image error] Pro Luce Habere tells the story of Valéry, the protagonist vampire from "On the Soul of A Vampire" and his life before he became a vampire and the 200 or so years following.

At the beginning of the novel, the year is 1212 and Valéry is a 14 year old on fire for God and his faith. He leaves home to join the Children's Crusade only to end up in slavery at the hands of the people he sought to convert. Four years later, near death from a beating, his "maker," Lukios, an ancient vampire, saves him from death but Valéry now must kill others to survive. At first, he refuses, but he eventually settles into a pattern of killing those who have hurt him or those he considers criminals.

In many respects, the life of a vampire as illustrated in this book is a lonely one, but Valéry eventually resigns himself to the life he's destined to live, although he continues to hate himself for the monster he believes he is. (In Keley's first book, On the Soul of a Vampire, Angelina tries to convince him that he is not the monster he thinks he is). In this book, another vampire shows him what evil vampires do (in that scene, the evil vampires torture a young girl for the sport of it and not because they need the nutrition).

I grew up watching old Dracula movies in which the vampire was always portrayed as the villain, so it's easy to forget that Valéry is a vampire. However, he is no ordinary vampire. He's a vampire with a conscience. He's a vampire who is struggling with his faith in God (not unlike many mortal humans).

In one scene, he plans to kill a woman who has wronged him, then he realizes she is pregnant and leaves her alone (in my opinion, this is one of the best scenes of the book because it shows Valéry's compassion).

Despite the fact that he is a vampire, it has become easier to love Valéry as a complex character who, like most human beings, has a conscience. And in the end, it begs the question: What is God's plan of salvation for this vampire with a conscience? Is there any hope for him? Is there any hope for any of us, for that matter? Of course, the answer is there is always hope.

After reading this "prequel," I have come to understand Valéry's intricate character more deeply and why he chose to do what he did at the end of "On the Soul of a Vampire." It also made me want to read Keley's first book again (since I know the character better)….and it makes me impatient to read Part II of this book.

Beautiful language, Catholic themes, complex story, well-defined and believable characters make this a wonderfully intense read! Keley is an incredibly gifted author, one whose future books I look forward to reading.

I highly recommend this exquisite book to everyone!

To purchase on Amazon Kindle, click here.

To purchase a print edition on Amazon, click here.

Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach

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Powerful Weapon

"The holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you'll be amazed at the results."

St. Josemaria Escriva

Although I grew up in a Catholic family, I learned how to say the rosary at school. My father often said it in private, but we never recited the rosary as a family and I rarely said the rosary on my own before the age of 11. One evening, however, my parents were involved in a loud (and heated) argument. It was my first experience at being "amazed at the results" of the powerful weapon of the holy rosary. The following is an excerpt from my novel, Emily's Hope. It's based on actual events and is a true illustration of Our Lady's powerful intercession.

I listen as my parents are fighting again, fighting over bills they can't pay. Each time my mom yells, my dad yells louder. Dad starts to throw things, not at Mom, just throwing things. I'm scared. It makes me feel anxious to see the two people I love most in the world screaming at each other. Don't they love each other, I ask myself. Why won't they stop yelling?

Dad just said something about moving out. Oh, God, please, I don't want my dad to move out. Mom says good. Oh, please, Mom, don't say that. I look at both of them but they don't seem to see me or the panic in my eyes. They only glare at each other.

Dad goes upstairs. I run after him and watch as he gets a suitcase out and starts putting clothes in it.

God, why won't you stop him? I pass by my bedroom and notice my rosary sitting on the bedside table. I grab it, sit down on my bed, and begin saying the rosary. As I say each Hail Mary, I plead with Our Lady, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen." Please, Our Lady, don't let my Dad walk out.

As I'm saying another Hail Mary, Dad walks by my room and doesn't notice that I'm even there. He stomps down the steps. I can't hear if he says bye, but I hear the door slam shut.

Oh, God, please, make him come back. I continue saying the rosary, each Hail Mary becoming more fervent than the last. I pray until my heart is bursting. Please, God, listen to my prayer.

I begin saying the Hail Holy Queen prayer and suddenly, I hear the door open downstairs. Without finishing, I stand at the top of the stairs and I see that my dad is standing at the doorway. Mom walks over to him. At first, they're silent.

Then, my dad starts to cry. "I can't leave you. I can't leave my family." He and Mom embrace.

I begin to cry. Thank you, God, and thank you, Our Lady, for bringing my daddy back.

(My parents remained married until my father's death eight years later. He was buried with his rosary in his hands.) The photo above is of my dad and me taken the summer I turned two years old.

Emily's Hope is available on Amazon.com.

Text and photo copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach