Grateful and Glad

We had such a good time together. Thank you for sharing a work trip with us: many adventures, yummy meals, pool time in cool weather atop the roof of a hotel in Sao Paulo's open-air Fall weather (memorable!), taxi car rides, enjoying the beauty of 4 little people lying on top of us in the back seat of a taxi, praying the Rosary in the taxis as we crossed the city from here to there and there to here. I love you.

23 Week Ultrasound

 

We love you, Daddy!

Dad and his girls.

 Dad and his threesome for story time. Madge had a story, from the Children's Book of Virtues, on her mind before everyone headed to bed.

 Daddy's fourth Little Blessing still growing inside, to arrive in October.)

Caleb and Daddy in the bom-bu (as Little Caleb calls it.:)


We love you for the blessing you are in our lives. Thank you for sharing God's gift of life and welcoming our treasures into this world with loving arms. We give you this song to say, we love you. Happy Father's Day. May St. Joseph always remain your help and strength in perseverance in the face of difficulties, joys, and sufferings.

Prayer to Saint Joseph for Fathers

Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary, you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty. You supported the holy family of Nazareth with the work of your hands. Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you. You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes. They look to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too knew trial, labor and weariness. But amid the worries of material life, your soul was full of deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with God's Son entrusted to you and with Mary, his tender Mother. Assure those you protect that they do not labor alone. Teach them to find Jesus near them and to watch over Him faithfully as you have done. Amen. Pope John XXIII
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May God continue to bless our Dads, who said "yes" to our lives and lovingly and sacrificially served us in the family. We love you and are grateful for you. 

Family

 (Maddy's Nativity set she went and made after she found some dried grass.)

  (The girls' playdough creation of the family from our homemade play dough on Wednesday)

A Prayer to St. Thomas More

...Pray that my family may find in me what yours found in you: friendship and courage, cheerfulness and charity, diligence in duties, counsel in adversity, patience in pain -- their good servant, and God's first.
Amen. 

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.- JPII

Pictures of the Kids

From yesterday's photo shoot: Madeleine, Guadalupe, and Caleb. Mom and Dad love you guys so much! You enrich our lives and brighten our days. Thank you for your love, your joy, your simplicity, your laughter.

Pregnancy Pics

Yesterday evening, we went to a location near by our home for an informal photo shoot. It was a pregnancy photo shoot, slash family photo shoot. We need to document the bump! Little baby #4 is growing each day and we don't want to miss the moments! (Last night, he/she was kicking and kicking in Mares' stomach. Adorable.) The backdrop was a mini bamboo forest. (Little Caleb loves to say the word bamboo, which he says bam-bu.) Boy, am I lucky to have such a beautiful (and growing) family!

Chinese Government Admits to Case of Forced Abortion

It's a well-known fact that the last four decades of China's history has been characterized by rampant forced abortions. Their policy purportedly changed in 2001, but forced abortions are still prevalent throughout the country. A recent article tells of a recent case where the Chinese government actually owned up to a recent individual case of forced abortion.

Chinese authorities confirmed Thursday that a woman was forced to abort seven months into her pregnancy, several days after her plight came to light when images of her baby's corpse were posted online.

What's new is here that it (a) there is public outrage in China, (b) the Chinese government publicly admits it, (c) hopefully there will be new momentum for human rights groups to hold China to task.

We'll never forget when our Madge was born, in China.  We immediately noticed some interesting phenomenon. Due to limited supply, pregnant women seemed super careful and cautious and pregnancy seemed treated as sacrosanct. In addition, everyone wanted to see the baby when we were out in the shops and markets--apparently, babies there don't go out in public until they're a month old while we were out and about after the first week. Finally, everyone we spoke with in China had the same message: Have more than one child! Believe me, we're trying. :)

Getting Ready to Carry His New Baby Brother or Sister

Sweet Caleb loves the babies... Just four more months away from carrying his own little brother or sister. :) Getting the practice in now with his Moby wrap (thanks to Nicky's generous giving when Maddy was a babe.)

Sleeping Prince

 Cals, You are growing so, so much. Each day you say new things.

  Your personality is sweet and hilarious, sensitive and a good mix of dependence and independence, loving and tender; you are a dear little boy.

 We cannot imagine life without you, sweet face. Today you fell asleep just as we pulled in from having lunch with Daddy.

 You had some playtime at the park with your sisters and were climbing up the slide saying, "Hi, Mama!" "Slide!"

  We love you, Handsome Boy. Thank you for your snuggles, sweet hugs, and toothy-smile. You bring us so much love. It is no wonder that we chose this song for you, even before you entered the world.

Love Notes Everyday

Madge and Pita, I love the notes (and flowers) you give to me each day. Just when I need a reminder of the simple joy that God sheds on each of us, daily, you bring such beautiful love notes. These are just a few Mommy keeps on the fridge to remind her of how much love you give, and how much love I need to remember God's love all day long. I love you, sweet girls, my angels.

A Train Track! Necklaces. A fun Saturday.

This afternoon Little Caleb was playing with "tchoos-tchoos" while Maddy and Pita finished making their bead necklaces with Dad's assistance and coordination. (Way to go, girls! Those necklaces turned out beautifully after you persevered with your needle and thread!) Little Caleb was looking for his "tchoos-tchoos" saying, "Tchoo-tchoo? Tchoo-tchoo?" Then, he found the bin of them and said, "Hi, Tchoo-tchoos!" When the girls finished with their necklaces, they joined Caleb, and wa-la, Madge made a beautiful train track. Calling us into the living room, she said, "This is the first one I have done all by my self!" It was a beauty and very much-appreciated by your siblings. We love you.At the end of Madge's necklace-making she said, "This has been such a fun day." It was. Just being together, at home, on a sunny Saturday was a perfect way to spend the day.

Giving and Receiving

(Keeping each other well accompanied with Blessed Mama and the Rosary.)

 (Madge and Pita having prayer time together.)

 (Madge in prayer with the Rosary and the beautiful view outside.)

 (Little Caleb lathered up his little hands with Baby Magic and rubbed Pita's calves.)

 (Madge asking Pita, "Peety, do you want me to say (the Rosary) a little quieter?" Pita nodded.)

Beginning yesterday, Pita woke up having a bit of a tummy ache and has been taking it easy since then. Lots of books, lots of rest, even Netflix-viewings! Madge has also been very eager to care for Pita. As Caleb and I finished up dishes last night, the three little people went to the living room to get ready to say the Rosary before we began Friday Movie Night (with a fun viewing of Cheaper by the Dozen, 1950.). As we were about to come in we could hear Madge's little voice praying the Rosary beside Pita (who was sound asleep). Madge was facing the crucifix, and icons of Our Lady and St. Joseph, with her Rosary in-hand. So sweet. Again, today, we found her upstairs with Pita. This time LIttle Caleb had join the girls right in their midst. Madge was praying the Rosary with Pita upstairs, as Pita was lying on the massage table resting, and Little Caleb was looking at his board books. Soon after seeing the girls there, Caleb told me that Madge had just said to him the night before, "Dad, I'm really getting more into the prayers." (She was on the fourth decade of the Rosary and didn't even realize that she had gotten so far in her prayers.) We love you, girls, and Mr. Calsee. Keep growing closer to Blessed Mama. She'll always keep you close to Jesus.