Psalms 118:8  New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

We can all come to the agreement that 2020 should be canceled. The lesson in 2020 is uncertainty and to trust no one. We have all been taken off guard. Any expert can come up with the right explanation, then another expert will refute the findings. For this reason I place my trust in God alone.

Psychological  COVID-19

Any normal human being can catch this mind disorder. This is just an example: let’s say you were around someone who tested positive for COVID-19. They act responsibly and call to inform you, but it’s how you react that will make all the difference. You are either going to believe that you have COVID-19, crawl into bed, make an appointment to get tested, and wait for the illness to take over your every thought. Or you can simply make an appointment for testing.

This is what happened to me last week. I went to lunch with someone who unknowingly had COVID-19. As soon as they found out I received the dreaded call. In a matter of minutes, I quickly started developing symptoms. I shared this with Mike and he, too, immediately became ill. The problem with our psychological COVID-19 is that it spreads. Both Mike and I had to inform our children that Thanksgiving was cancelled due to both of us suffering from psychological COVID. Whether we brought on these symptoms or not, we were not feeling well.

Thanksgiving

Mike pressed through his illness and lethargically put the turkey in the oven. I got up early and sneaked into the pharmacy to pick up some miracle drugs that consisted of: Budesondine, cough drops with zinc, aspirin and we already had Listerine.

All during the pandemic I have been receiving messages from Messenger via my phone: what to do and what not to do if you get the “RONA”. I paid attention to one in particular. Dr. Richard Bartlett, from Texas had been experiencing great recoveries with his COVID-19 patients. He said God spoke to him and gave him a simple way to fight COVID-19. On Thanksgiving Day I went to the local CVS pharmacy. I felt a little guilty because what if I really had it? I wore plastic gloves and was delighted to find that I was the only customer in the store. I could not find the Budesonide, but right before I gave up, I said a quick prayer: “Dear St. Jude and St. Rita of impossible causes, please help me find this medicine.” It was a small miracle; when I looked again there on the shelf were two small boxes containing the nasal spray.  The unusual thing about this was the empty spaces on both sides of the boxes. Then I looked for the Zinc lozenges; they, too, were in a box. I went home and medicated myself and instructed Mike to follow suit. For most of the day we would look at each other and chuckle in disbelief at the thought of not having our family over. It was a quiet Thanksgiving Day. We did manage to film a segment of “The Reluctant Chef” to lift up our spirits.

Our family was not going to be denied the most fabulous meal of the year. Under normal circumstances I’m never allowed in the kitchen, but this year everything is out of whack. Mike had me cut up a bunch of vegetables for the stuffing, and I also prepared the potatoes. Nothing too fancy this year; normally we have potatoes au gratin, but this year plain mashed potatoes. We took our time and rested in between the cooking.

I texted the girls to bring their own plastic containers when they came to pick up the food. Jenny brought over her famous salad, and Sonja brought her homemade mini-cheesecakes and pumpkin pies. We were all forlorn and words could not express my emotions. I saw the sadness in my son’s eyes as they left.

As we have been doing these last nine months, Mike and I sat down to eat our lovely dinner. I never took off  my sweatsuit. I never brought out the crystal  or fancy silverware; the gold chargers, too, stayed in the cabinet. This meant that the clean up was going to be a breeze. Well, it was, until I asked Mike to throw out the turkey carcass. We have a sturdy roasting pan but Mike insisted on using the disposable aluminum type. This time he placed a large cookie sheet underneath in case of any messy, greasy spillage. I knew we were in trouble when Mike came in with a thin trash can liner. “Can you help me? Open up the bag while I put the turkey into the bag,” he asked.  I replied, “The bag is too thin, and it’s already tearing!” Then it happened: the bag broke and the grease went all over the kitchen floor! The 24- pound turkey produced so much grease, and it splattered on the kitchen cabinets as well. Black Friday was clean the cabinets day. I used 409 and for about three hours I sprayed and removed any excess grease stains. I was so proud of my efforts, but when the natural sun light hit the cabinets I could clearly see where I sprayed the 409; it stained my beautiful cabinets! I yelled, “Mickey! Something happened and I need your help!” This was a Lucie Ricardo moment. Mike was in the middle of a football game and was greatly irritated with the sound of my screeching voice. He stopped watching the game and went to Home Depot to purchase some heavy duty oil to fix the problem. He spent most of Sunday oiling the cabinets.

Black Friday Test

We both welcomed the morning with what we felt was a healing, but to be on the safe side Mike decided to go for a rapid test. I made another appointment to be tested on Sunday. Mike’s test came back negative and it was over…for now anyway. How is it that we are all taking these tests? Who do we trust? How do we know that the test results are not being messed with, to keep us in fear that we need to continually get tested? Who is profiting from all the money from the testing?

I decided to get tested, and this time it was with a real doctor. I asked the doctor what the survival rate was? She replied that it was 99% recovery, with the exception of the elderly and those who suffer from underlying health issues. We are all stuck in this rut of testing and before this pandemic is lifted, don’t be surprised if we’ve gone through at least ten tests per person.

Be Gracious

When someone who you have had contact with has COVID-19, be gracious. Don’t become judgmental. implying that the person was reckless and making them feel like the illness originated from them. The feeling of remorse is already being displayed when they inform you. Be responsible and get tested. Don’t catch psychological COVID-19 because until you’re tested, you don’t know.

My Prayer: Dear Lord, please give us a better understanding as to when this will all be over. Protect us from being overtaken by fear. Teach us to draw closer to You and, when we feel anxious, remind us how much You love us and want to make us whole. Amen.

Did you ever think that our world would be in such disarray? In our past Thanksgivings we have always entertained guests. Not this year! This is the year that will go down in history as the year from Hell. COVID-19 impacts us all in a different manner.  I, for one, refuse to give in to the fear projected by the masses. I pray, I still attend daily Mass, I go out on a regular basis; though I am careful, I am not as obedient as when the first lockdown occurred. No one knows how to react or respond to this new life we are forced to live. Whether you believe this is political or not doesn’t matter because in the long run we are being controlled. We live in a free country and no government entity should be allowed to put such stringent regulations over us. I thank God we do not live in Los Angeles County; they are taking two steps back to try to keep the virus from spreading. In Orange County our restrictions are less strict. Many of us have grown tired of Governor Newsom and no longer respect his warmongering. It’s time to let us live a responsible life or we will never win this war with COVID-19.

We are all overreacting to the slightest sign of a runny nose, getting tested to make sure so that we will not become the spreaders of the virus. This weekend was another example of extreme caution. Our son Mikos and his wife Jenny were planning a short business getaway when their daughter Maddie came down with a fever; after a rapid test, the results were negative. Both Maddie and Wil were able to spent the weekend with us.

Bring on Christmas

I had made up my mind to decorate earlier than usual for Christmas. This is a daunting task because I have accumulated over 49 years of decorations. I took advantage of our grandchildren and had them help with getting all my Christmas boxes out. I want our home to light up the neighborhood and send a message of cheer – that we will celebrate life and the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. We played Christmas music and had the most pleasant evening with all four of our grandchildren.

Mike purchased the world’s largest angel and set it right outside the front door. This angel is over seven-feet tall; she so gargantuan I had to give her a name: she is Celestina.

Maddie is fifteen and her brother Wil is thirteen. They have grown to become what I have forever been praying for: two beautiful, loving kids. Maddie takes after me and is passionate about her beliefs. She is strong-willed but sensitive; she will not put up with anything that is remotely fake. Wil has matured into a fine young man, and is becoming a great role model for his younger cousins. They are both gifted athletes. Maddie has her driver’s permit and is my personal driver. She is driving Miss Lynda. I love to be in the passenger’s seat so this brings joy to both of us.

The Truth

The Lord revealed to me in January that this was the year that truth would be revealed. I am still praying for the outcome of the elections. If there was fraud or mishandling of ballots I put my complete trust in God. He will always reveal the truth. If 72 million people are praying the same prayer, God hears us and will soon answer our plea. We are in a spiritual battle as never before. We are fighting for the rights of the unborn, the sanctity of marriage and for our Christian rights. We have gotten so far and there is no turning back. Sometimes I feel that I have fallen into a pit of quicksand and cannot get out, but then I get a surge of hope and start the uphill battle again. We who believe will fight to the bitter end. Our prayers reach the throne of heaven, and we will not be denied. Our fight is building up our faith, and all we need is faith the size of a grain of mustard seed to move forward. I have the confidence that truth will prevail and that victory is just around the corner. God never leaves things unfinished, and He will expose all the deception. We wait in anticipation because the victory belongs to the Lord.

The Lesson

There is only one lesson in this battle: God is teaching us that He will get things accomplished because He is allowing things to be exposed. When I look at things in the natural, I cannot fathom how this is going to take place because it looks impossible. But with God all things are possible.

I will not stop praying until God releases me. I will remain steadfast, not only in my prayer life but in the supernatural realm, believing God will show His glory to the world. God wants to touch each and every one of us through this lesson. Don’t think of me as foolish because that is the farthest  from the truth. We are among the millions who operate in this belief. I happen to be one who  is publicly announcing my proclamation, and I do this with an open heart. God has my back and He will reveal any fraud in this election.

Romans 10:11

Dear Lord, I pray that You keep our families safe from any and all illnesses, especially COVID-19. Lord, bring Your Holy Spirit upon all households and allow us to feel Your Holy Presence this Thanksgiving. Dear Jesus, show us a sign that this, too, will pass. We look to You for all our needs. Restore hope in those who have lost so much because of this pandemic. Lord, provide meals for all Your people, especially those who are homeless. Cover the world with Your blanket of love. Amen.

I have been sequestered in my bedroom for three-and-a-half days. This all started with a slight fever on Wednesday, November 11th. My body was speaking to me in a small voice, telling me something was off balance. In the meantime Mike made sure to sleep in the guest bedroom for fear of the coronavirus. The following day I called our health provider for a directive, and, just as I suspected, a COVID-19 test was recommended.

The Test

The last thing I wanted to do was to get out of bed and get tested. This was a drive-through test held in the parking lot of the  Anaheim Convention Center. I went online and filled out all the required information; I signed up for the last spot of the day, 5:30-6:00 p.m. I left the house an hour and a half earlier just in case of any glitches.

The Screening

Since this was my first time for testing, I had no idea what to expect. The first screener came to my car, and I rolled down the window to speak to her. She quickly signaled for me to roll up the window.”Please keep your window up!” She pointed to her clipboard and asked for my ID and a confirmation number. I showed her both, but for some reason she kept pointing to the confirmation number. I was showing her my appointment that I had conveniently screen shot. I could see the frustration in her face when she told me to go into lane #2. I knew this was the lane for stupid people. She placed a note on my windshield, and off I went. I was flustered, and all I could think about was getting this test completed. I called my friend Cindy and asked her to pray for me.

The Revelation

While I was waiting in the stupid line, the Lord instructed me to pull up the registration form. Thank God everything was saved, including the insurance information. It turns out that I had inadvertently forgotten to send the last part of the form. As the second screener was walking toward my vehicle, the confirmation number popped up on my phone. With my window rolled down I was handed the COVID-19 kit. I waited another 20 minutes, then drove to the underground garage to take the test. I was greeted by two well-informed male assistants dressed in what looked like HAZMAT suits. With their instructions I gave myself the test. My temperature was taken, then I was instructed to place the tube/vile in the trash can on my way out. Yes, it was a trash can! Of course, as in most cases, my car was too far to reach the can. At no time are you to leave your vehicle, but my arms were way too short to toss it in the trash can. I had to back up, with other cars behind me, to get within reach. I was told that within two to three days I would either receive a text message or email informing me of the results.

Meanwhile Back At Home

Dr. Mike (my husband) instructed me to stay in our room; he would bring me all my meals and anything else I needed. Mike asked me to try not to use the handrails when going down stairs,  and to not touch anything in the kitchen. I wanted a small snack, so I touched almost everything in the kitchen. I tried to disinfect my tracks with Clorox wipes, but I’m sure I left some bacteria behind.

When I got back from the test, Mike solemnly stated, “We need to talk about Thanksgiving.” I rolled my eyes and answered, “We’ll talk when the results come in.”

I was supposed to pick up my grandkids from school on Thursday but the coronavirus symptoms quickly put a stop to that. “We don’t want the boys to be exposed,” their parents cried. On Friday our daughter-in-law Jenny stepped up and picked up the kids from school.

I know my body, and this felt like the common cold that I get every flu season. I stayed in bed and prayed for the outcome of the presidential election. I watched EWTN (a global Catholic Network) and several Hallmark movies, praying for the results to come in.

The Results

The results arrived on Saturday at 11:56 a.m. My heart was stilled with a quick prayer, and then again I needed the stupid confirmation number! Thank You, Jesus, that my date of birth was another option. Yes, coronavirus is the new drama queen, acting worse than a teenager not getting her way. I had a cold but, because of all these political requirements, I was put through Hell. I tested negative! Praise be to God!

Isaiah 33:2 

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, and our salvation in the time of trouble.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray for all who died due to COVID-19. Comfort the hearts of their loved ones and bring them peace. Lord, remove all fear that this pandemic is causing. Help us to trust in You for all of our needs. Father God, guide us to approach prayer with more reverence and humility.  Heal our nation and eradicate COVID-19 from this earth. Amen.

In closing I would like to thank the professional efforts of Fulgent Genetics for conducting the test and Healthvana.com for the rapid results. God bless the work of your hands.