Sally Bolderson: Home

I realize it's been way too long since I've posted anything here and I do apologize for those people who were wanting to find something new. For those of you who have followed my journal, you know that God has given us a fair amount of challenges to bear in our path with Him. And it is yet another of these challenges that has kept me from writing.

My daughter, Angela, who has borne the brunt of most of the problems we face has been dealt yet another blow. To recap, 7 years ago she was diagnosed with kidney failure and has been on dialysis. In 2011 she had a pseudotumor (excessive fluid) in her brain which left her legally blind. At that time they also noted an actual brain tumor on the right side of her head. We had been watching it and on Labor Day of 2012, she had a couple seizures and tests showed that the tumor had grown. In October, she underwent a biopsy and it was found to be a stage 2 astrocytoma (cancer). She underwent radiation treatments and for now the tumor is stable and the radiation has stopped the current growth, but this type of tumor will come back as an aggressive form of the disease (hopefully years from now) and we will ultimately lose her to it.

My lack of writing is that putting things in words makes it all very real. But in all of it, I am so inspired by her....she is so strong. And I am ever so grateful for my God and His love for all of us. I cannot imagine what this kind of trial would be without faith.

So, I hope to do better with my journal in the future. Asking for prayers as we travel this road.....never alone.

love,
Sally

With a big sigh, I begin this post. I, by nature, am not a confrontational person. I like to keep the peace, treat others as I would like to be treated, however, the political climate we find ourselves in these days has me so befuddled.

I am a cradle Catholic, and believe deeply in the teachings of the church. I am also an American citizen and a person who loves people for who they are, where they are.

One of my quandaries that I find myself in, is the "gay marriage" situation. At my core I believe that the designed order for "marriage" is a man and a woman for the purpose of co-creating as God intended.

Having said that, I have a niece who is a lesbian. She has a partner. I see that they truly care and love each other. One thing I know is that these situations are not for me to judge. It is for God to judge. I can't and don't pretend to know the right and wrong. Only God knows that.

We are human....we interpret what we believe to be true and we then enact on these beliefs (right or wrong).

Recently, there has been a huge struggle over this topic where the "Chic-fil-A" company has expressed their beliefs and have fallen under attack by the liberal media and those who don't agree with their beliefs.

This is America! We were built on the beliefs that we can all have our opinion....it's the freedom of speech.

So, where I get messed up is that on one hand I agree with the needs of any 2 people regardless of gender and orientation to be allowed the legal benefits afforded to those who are a married heterosexual couple, whether it be two same gender people, a man and a woman, a parent and adult child....whatever 2 people share in the responsibilities of a household.

But what really hurts my heart is the pain and the hurt on all sides of this situation....people hell bent on hurting each other. Why can't we understand where the other person is coming from and agree to disagree?

Why can't we just be friends?

I was just on the phone with a patient (I work in a doctor's office) and just thought, I love people! As long as I can remember I loved interacting with people. I remember before I was even in school, my older siblings would be at school and I would sit out on our front steps and talk to people that would walk by. Every day the mailman would come to our house with his push cart full of mail. On many days I would walk with him down the block and chat while he brought the mail to the other houses. And, not being able to cross the street yet, I would then return home when he reached the end of the block.

As I got older and worked at McDonald's during high school I remember a coworker mentioning something about that I could talk to anybody! Nobody was a stranger!

And now in this setting many years later, I still love to interact with people! I love the challenge where someone will warn me that a particular patient is difficult to talk to and I immediately strive to have them be happy by the end of our conversation.

It's that way with my music as well! I aim to "bring more than just a song" to the people whom God has sent to hear the gifts he has given to me. What a blessing!

Yesterday, I was honored to share in the music ministry in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood, a very holy man, Msgr. John Leykam. Being a part of the amazing choir and able to share my blessings in a couple solo parts, re-engergized me in my ministry.

I have also been blessed recently to once again lead the music at the all school masses for the Holy Trinity Grade School. It's helped me to realize that what I have to give is something special. It's an amazing intermingling of the gifts God has given me and the Holy Spirit working together to bring the love of God to his children. They reciprocate so beautifully with their angelic voices joining me! I am just elated!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!