August 17, 2021

Covid Prayer Requests

 


Please pray for the following who are hospitalized with Covid
Cardinal Burke
my cousin Paul
my sister's 10th grade student Maureen

PADRE PIO'S SACRED HEART NOVENA PRAYER
* Padre Pio would pray this prayer when people asked him to pray for them.
O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of a complete healing of Cardinal Burke, Paul & Maureen. Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Glory Be ... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in My name, He will give it to you." Behold, in Your name, I ask the Father for the grace of a complete healing of Cardinal Burke, Paul, and Maureen. Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Glory Be ... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but My words will not pass away." Encouraged by Your infallible words I now ask for the grace of a complete healing of Cardinal Burke, Paul, and Maureen. Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Glory Be ... Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of You, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your tender Mother and ours.
Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: "St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us."


August 14, 2021

Black Belt Test

 

We did it! I earned my first degree black belt and Frodo earned his 3rd degree black belt. Rosie also mid-termed.

I. Am. So. Sore.

8:00 am - 9:30 - ran the hill, kicks, ran the hill, punches, burpees (30!), push ups, form, etc, etc, etc...
9:30 - 10:00 (or less) ran (walked, lumbered, and jogged) 1.2 miles to the Tae Kwon Do school. 1/2 hour break to change into uniform.
10:30 - 11:30 am belt test - form twice, sparring 4 rounds, board breaks (I did a left (weak) side elbow strike, and ax kick, Stephen did 3 board breaks))
Went home and swam, ate lunch, showered, complained I was sore.
3:00-5:00 Gala. I only had to perform my form on stage in front of the some 150 people audience (I think that is the number I heard). Frodo had to perform his form, sparring, and 2 board breaks.
We then had a very special ceremony and received our black belts - several times had to hold back the tears, it was very emotional. We had to dedicate our test to someone. I chose my son Merry as he has helped me so much to get to this point. I also thanked my husband for being such a good provider and making this all possible. The support, kindness, and love in our school is very special.


Forms


Rosie performed her form for a mid term

My Baby and My Grandbaby 😂

Rosie also had to perform her weapon form (bo staff). I was definitely unable to get the bo staff down, but at least that isn't necessary for a belt test, just mid term!!


Rosie and I were in the same quad for sparring. We each had to spar e5ach person in our group. Later 4 of us in the session had to spar a 4th time.
Rosie and I sparring

Frodo also had to do alot of sparring. His was pretty doggone intense!! Fun to watch!


For my board break I did a left (weak side) elbow strike and a right leg ax kick. Broke them!  The elbow strike I ended up hitting one of the instructors in the gut (not hard! just the follow through)
The ax kick splintered into a bunch of pieces. I'm sorry for the instructor who got a piece in his eye :(

We were home for a couple hours. During our lunch outdoors we found there were alot of yellow jackets (argh) and we had already sprayed them. So a contest is in progress, who can build the best wasp catcher... Kili put some onion and club crackers and cactus honey in his. 😂
Soapy bucket with some meat ???
Not sure what this goop is.
Christmas bucket with something under it.
Gatorade bottle.

3:00-5:00 Gala. What a very special event. It started with a video (we testers have not yet watched it as we were behind the stage). Mr. Moh took all our black belt videos and narrowed them down to one 8 minute video. I can hardly wait to watch it.
There were 18 testers. 3 were going for 3rd degree, 4 or 5 going for 2nd degree, and 11 or 12 going for 1st degree.
Demo team did a performance together followed by some individual demos. Great job!

3rd degree form

I was in the first group of 1st degree testers. We had to perform 41 moves. To get to 2nd degree I'll need to perform (after a number of mid-terms) the rest of the form which is 81 moves. My goal was to learn all 81 moves before my 1st degree black belt so I can compete. I did it! I need to perfect it to competition ability but was glad I did it!



Candle and Soap Ceremony - the owner of our school read a beautiful and true story about the candle and the soap. I hope to get a copy and will post it.




Next set of photos from the same day on a different camera. we had several going.















Mr. R performing his 3rd degree form.
His son J performing his creative form.
Miss S performing her 3rd degree bo staff
Mr. B performing his kamas form. He is SOOOO good!











program (kinda crumpled)

soap and candle

What a day! I. Am. So. Sore. But what fun! It's hard to believe that someone at my age could earn a black belt! It's been an intense journey.