I always look forward to the gift of a rose on Nonna’s birthday.

Sure enough, right on time did this beauty appear.

The gift of a rose on Nonna’s birthday.

Drum roll please…the 2018 Coraggio Spirit Award is bestowed to Brandie DeHaan, for her courage to advocate for herself and for others.

She displayed the courage to step up and to continue asking questions until correctly diagnosed and again used courage to step up until she found a treatment that worked for her. When no longer able to serve others as an EMS worker, she turned her passion for helping others into serving her family of eight and other MG patients.  Grazie for your inspiration Brandie!

                  Coraggio 2018 Spirit Award

Chase after your dreams, no matter your age!

I am thrilled to have met Italian Director Katia Bernardi and Co-producer Davide Valentini, who brought this message alive in their film “Funne.”

Italian Funne film Katia Bernardi e Co-ProducerDavide Valentini

Their heart-warming and humorous story follows a group of older women
from a remote, picturesque mountain village,
in pursuit of  their dream to travel to the sea.
Bravo Katia and Davide!

Grazie organizer of the Italian Film Fest Carmen De Lorenzo!

Pre-chopped veggies is becoming more available.  There are even more interesting combos of chopped veggies for salads, soups, etc.  Letting someone else do the chopping helps preserve finger and wrist joints, thus I have NO EXCUSES to not keep up the healthy fresh veggie lifestyle.

Keeping a healthy lifestyle. Its easier all the time!

Liz & Lisa #GoRedMI 

Do you know that sudden jaw pain is a sign of heart attack in women? 

— with Lisa Gigliotti and Elizabeth Wudyka Smalley at Soup Spoon Cafe.

                    #GoRedMI Feb 3, 2018

#GoRedforWomen 

Perfect meal for Wear Red Day–heart smart vegan chickpea veggie stew

served over sweet potato mash.

That’s Amore 

How can you help but express joy when being in the presence of the great love between this couple?

And the amazing families who celebrate their love!

Photo by Veronica Dana

Gratitude=happy!

Neuroscientists prove  feeling grateful activates the brain stem region that produces dopamine, the neurotransmitter that leads to feelings of being happy.

See articlehttp://www.businessinsider.com/a-neuroscience-researcher-reveals-4-rituals-that-will-make-you-a-happier-person-2015-9

May you have the Courage to Believe a Miracle can Happen to You at this season in which we honor the greatest Miracle of all: Christmas. Whether you can join us for Advent Tea or not, I pray this for you:

You are worthy; God is With Us! 

May you have the Courage to Believe a Miracle can Happen to You at this season in which we honor the greatest Miracle of all: Christmas.

Diocesan Center of Lansing, 12/2/17, 1 – 3PM.

I give gratitude for the God-given inspiration for the Coraggio book series

and for the men and women I have met along the Coraggio presentation paths

who have taught me enormously about courage, faith, and hope.

                 Coraggio Presentation Photos

I am humbled and strengthened by their valor.

I was blessed by Fruzi and Greti who greeted us when we arrived in Hungary this September, spoiled us with a home-cooked traditional meal of soup and stuffed Hungarian peppers, and who kept my mother Julia and grandparents Zoltan and Anna’s memories alive for me and passed to Eric. I experienced profound gratitude that I could once more gaze at the Danube River that flows through Budapest, Hungary with Fruzsi and Greti.

Bridge over the Danube River in Budapest with Fruzsi and Greta