My Mom’s 4 Year Anniversary: Quit Smoking Cigarettes

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening! Depending on when your reading this blog haha. Anyway…I wanted to celebrate my Mom, Margaret Reilly Vitrano on her 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON QUIT SMOKING CIGARETTES!!! I’m so proud of her and so are her other family members and friends. She started her journey to quit in 2018 when she went to the doctor and got several health scares. I first wrote about her journey in my previous blog “My Mom Quit Smoking Cigarettes After 48 Years!”.

Me and My Mom in the beginning of her journey in 2018, Brooklyn.

Unfortunately Margaret aka Margie aka my Mom aka my best friend (I know that’s a lot of A.K.A’s lol) wasn’t immune to all heath issues after 48 years of smoking cigarettes. She has Emphysema, which comprises COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The disease develops over time and involves the gradual damage of lung tissue, specifically the destruction of the alveoli (tiny air sacs). Luckily it isn’t life threatening if treated and carefully monitored, however it can affect everyday life tasks.

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My Mom wasn’t immune to the consequences of smoking for so long, however she is much healthier now that she has quit. Life has changed a lot in 4 years! My Mom and I moved from an apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y. to a house in Charlotte, N.C. Read about it in my previous blog “Hello, After One Year 🙂”. I got married in December of 2019 so all three of us live together in our house in North Carolina. The family has extended a bit since then because my sister had her baby girl, Rosemary and now has baby #2 on the way. My sis and her family also live in North Carolina. Unfortunately deaths did occur in the family and there were HUGE health scares for many with the Covid pandemic. Despite all the emotional up’s and down’s within the past 4 years my Mom did not have any cigarettes at all! This is a HUGE accomplishment within herself.

Me and my Mama in our backyard in N.C. 🥰

My husband (John), Me (Catherine), and my Mom (Margaret). All smiles 😁

I conducted a short interview with my Mom, Margie Reilly Vitrano to gain some insight on how she kept on track for years, especially during heartbreak and stressful times. Here are the questions and answers below:

1. Q: How long has it been since you quit smoking? A: It has been 4 years on 4/20/18 since I quit smoking.
2. Q: Why did you quit smoking? A: I got sick and was told I had to quit if I wanted to get better. I was hospitalized for a few days due to sickness.
3. Q: Who motivated you to quit smoking? A: Me. I have been thinking about it for many years but was unsuccessful. It was mostly my daughter Catherine she got tough with me and wouldn’t let me quit my goal.
4. Q: How did you finally quit and not smoke cigarettes again? A: I needed help so I used the smoking patch that I got through the 311 help line and they sent me free products to use.
5. Q: How has life been since you quit? A: Better! I can breathe better, walk better except when it comes to walking up hills. I still have some of the symptoms of a smoker, but not as it was before. Some things don’t go away you just learn to live with it.
6. Q: What was the hardest thing about quitting? And what was the easiest? A: The craving for a cigarette and nicotine taking a puff and just holding it between my fingers LOL. To tell you the truth nothing was easy about quitting, but I can say now that has been sometimes I forget how long it has been since I quit. I rarely think about smoking.
7. Q: What advice can you give to people who want to quit smoking? And how did you coop with staying away from cigarettes for good? A: Just stick to your goal and don’t give up quitting! It is the hardest thing I had to do. but I failed many times before I got it right. Also using a support group on social media helped a great deal. There you can vent and people respond to your pain and suffering. Also they give advice and talk about their experiences and their journeys to freedom. It took many many years before I was truly ready, about 12 years to be exact. I would call the help line every year and they would send me free patches and gum. Sometimes I used them for a day or so then sometimes not. I knew I had it just in case. I was getting sick and not being around my family gave me the courage TO STOP AND REMAIN SMOKE FREE all of these years. I also started a new chapter in my life as a retired woman.

My Mom and the family dog (Ricki).

My Mom isn’t perfect however who is? She is a normal woman who overcame an obstacle and shared her experience with that obstacle. Good news my Mom has also inspired me and my Dad to quit smoking too. We have also been cigarette free for over 4 years. My Dad has also overcome many heath scares throughout the years and he is going strong too.

My Dad (John) and Me (Catherine). NYC visit 2022
❤️😊.

If you have a story about overcoming an obstacle in your life and/ or your own “quit smoking” story please share in the comments below. Thank you and have a blessed day 🙏🏻.

Easter Sunday

Easter time is almost here!

It’s time to laugh, jump, feel joy, and cheer!

When the day has come they all shall say:

“Praise the Lord, Alleluia! He has risen today!”

Savoring the time we spend with family and friends.

Waiting for the special helper that Jesus the Messiah will send.

Easter Sunday is a time to celebrate and be glad.

It’s definitely not a time to mope around and be sad.

He was killed, died, then rose on the third day.

Christians and Catholics observe this as Easter Sunday.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dark Spring Night

Deep dark blue sky of the spring night.

Deep dark blue sky keeping out the light.

Deep dark blue sky a magnificent sight.

Deep dark spring sky with twinkling stars.

Deep dark spring sky, midnight tree bars.

Deep dark spring sky showing constellation in the shape of cars.

Deep dark silent cool breeze.

Deep dark night be at ease.

Deep dark environment do what you please.

Deep dark spring sky swallows me whole.

Deep dark spring sky definitely knows its role.

Deep dark spring sky sleepless nights is what you stole.

3 A.M. Poem

It’s 3 a.m. and I’m wide awake.

Somebody give me an ambien for goodness sake!

Maybe I will drift off to sleep if I think of a nice, peaceful lake.

All these thoughts racing in my mind and in my head.

The reason for all of this tossing and turning in the bed.

All these thoughts need to be recorded, they must be said!

I’m really sick and tired of this so called “woke” culture.

The angry, hungry mob circling around like vultures.

Controlling what people are allowed to say, molding the youth like clay sculptures.

Rewarding what’s evil and prosecuting what’s good.

Everyone seems to be misunderstood.

Whining about nonsense instead of building up their neighborhoods.

TV is fake and the advertisements are indoctrination.

Trying their best to poison an entire generation.

Trying to destroy our society and civilization!

If you think prosecuting someone’s beliefs and speaking lies is ok to do.

Then you are a part of the problem and that is true.

I’m only trying to warn you because a know most of you have no clue.

Trampling on the rights of others and making people feel guilty of who they are.

Saying rude things to strangers on social media, how bizarre.

Something tells me a lot of these people in life didn’t get very far.

I refuse to apologize for my faith over fear.

I refuse to not give up even if has been a rough year.

It doesn’t matter what I’m going through their is still a reason to cheer.

I praise God everyday and thank Him for what I do have.

I praise God for my husband, with marriage a whole becomes to halves.

Our dream is one day have a farm with chickens, goats, and calves.

Be strong and don’t be afraid of the angry leftist mob.

They can’t do anything to harm you if you have faith in God.

In the Bible it says He will strike your enemies down with his mighty rod!

He said in the Bible that whoever longs for righteousness shall seek.

No, I’m not a religious fanatic or an extremist, but a proud Jesus freak.

The good news is one day the earth will belong to the meek.

Don’t let them scramble your brain.

Remember repeating the same actions and expecting a different result is the definition of insane!

Depression and negative thoughts met their match because there is always sunshine after the rain.

Hello, After One Year :)

It has been one year since I have posted or even looked at anything on my blog website. Since then, so happy to be feeling the love from a few readers that still give my page a gander or a look-see. A very special shout out to those fellow bloggers and readers for the support you know who you are! It just goes to show you even in uncertain and very scary times we can all still support, help, and love one another.

Now last year (2020) is done! Thank God for that, was one of the best yet worst years of my young life with a lot of roller-coaster ups and downs. I was just starting new “married” life in a new state with my husband, and I took my Mom along for the ride. My family and I experienced a lot of financial and health uncertainties that many others faced as well. One thing that was nice to see throughout this chaotic year of pandemic, electoral madness, life restrictions that many of us have never faced before were people coming together to help one another out. I did witness a lot of kindness around me. I have to say it might have to do with the move from up north to down south which is a bit of a culture shock in itself (in a good way).

My faith has gotten stronger yet a little rocky at the same time. I miss my church back in Brooklyn and longing to feel that connection in my new home state. God has taught me in times of trouble the only thing you can honestly do is pray and wait. Pray for you, your family, friends, neighbors, the people affected by the pandemic, the innocent people that get killed every day. A prayer for strength, patience, and hope in a time where we all need it the most. Patience is a huge one for me! I need the patience to deal with others and to wait for life to get back to normal which it’s starting to get there a little more each day in 2021.

One year later and a lot has happened! Both amazing and horrible, both good and evil. One thing I know for sure I have to get back into the things that I love the most and be around people who have my back and make me feel alive at the same time. My family is amazing and my friends are the best. I’m honestly super blessed and grateful every day for what I do have: Health, Happiness, Faith, Hope, and most importantly LOVE.

May God bless you all!

Always Count Your Blessings

The entire world seems to be turned upside down by fear over the past few weeks from this coronavirus scare. Many people might be questioning God’s existence or cursing Him for letting the human race spine into chaos. But I say to you do not blame God it is not His fault. If you want to blame anyone it is ourselves who are responsible for chaos here on earth. We are the reason why things go wrong! God isn’t he loves us all and He wants to see us thrive and praise Him.

Instead of being fearful or angry at God let’s praise Him even more at a time like this and remember to be grateful for what you do have. Let us all counting our blessings today.

1. Blessed to be ALIVE!

If you are alive today then that is a huge gift and a blessing from God! Thank you, Jesus, for my life!

“rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭ASV‬‬

2. Blessed to have FAMILY & friends!

If you have family and friends in your life you are so blessed! Thank you, Jesus, for ALL my family and friends. Please protect them in their time of need and keep them safe and healthy. In Jesus’ name. Amen

“Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
‭‭3 John‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭ASV‬‬

3. Blessed to have a JOB.

You are blessed if you still have your job or any source of income to take care of your financial expenses. Thank you, Jesus, for always providing for me with everything I need to survive!

“And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:8‬ ‭ASV‬‬

4. Blessed to have a place to SLEEP.

You are so blessed if you have a warm safe place to rest your head at night. Especially if you have a warm big comfy bed or even a nice couch. Many people don’t even have that so if you do be grateful and thank Jesus for that each and every day! Thank you, Jesus, for providing me with a warm comfy place to rest my head at night!

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭ASV‬‬

5. Blessed to have clean WATER to drink and good FOOD to eat.

You are so blessed if you have clean, fresh water to drink every day. If you have good food to eat that is warm and delicious then WOW that is so great! There are countless people throughout the world that aren’t as blessed as you right now. Always remember to give thanks to God! Thank you, Jesus, for food in my belly and water to quench my thirst.

“I will give thanks unto Jehovah according to his righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of Jehovah Most High.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭7:17‬ ‭ASV‬‬

Even though it may be hard to give thanks when things may not be as good right now because of the coronavirus. If you have even one of these things that I mentioned above you are so blessed right now! A thankful heart is what God truly loves to hear and see from his children. Give thanks to Jesus always in prayer and action.

May God bless you all!

Do Not Fear

Do not fear because God is with thee,

It is harder to explain to the blind that fail to see.

Fear is the ultimate weapon of Satan the enemy!

Bravery is contagious and so is a peaceful mind,

Others will seek godly strength but will lack to find.

Human strength is useless because Jesus alone can get you out of any bind.

Sickness and chaos will always be a part of this earth.

We can conquer death only with a spiritual rebirth.

Take on the power of God’s Holy Spirit with It’s mighty girth.

People fear more and more each and every day.

It’s harder to get through winter when it’s getting closer to May.

Stay safe in a world who encourages people to keep God at bay.

The only thing left to do is get on your knees and pray.

“fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭ASV‬‬