Requesting Prayers for My Grandma

Over the last ten days, my maternal Grandma, affectionately known as Grandma Gertie, has been on the brink with some serious health complications. We ask for your prayers at this time that she pull through. She is a fighter: We thank God for that! Our love and prayers to the kids' only Great Grandma, Nana. We love you, Grandma. Get well soon!

2 Months of Marriage...Already!

I am dreadfully behind in blogging, but hopefully can get some catch up going!

Two months ago today, my little sister, Mary Theresa, and Adam got married. I can't believe how time has flown! It seems like it was just yesterday. It was a beautiful wedding and they make an incredible couple. It was an enjoyable and memorable day. There are many, many other beautiful photos from the wedding, but I want to get a few online for the moment. Mary Theresa and Adam, we love you! Happy two month wedding anniversary! 

The rehearsal walk down the aisle!

"I am Falling"

Little Caleb is quite the character. He entertains the whole family, and we all love and adore him. A couple of his recent quirks:

• He loves to say, "I am falling..." as he pretends to fall either to the ground or off furniture. It has become a tag-line at home, as we all walk around the house now saying, "I am falling..."
• He also loves to cock his head to the side and say, "Can I leave the table?" Of course, we all have fallen to repeating that line to him as well. His response to us is always a curt no. I guess we'll be at the table for some time!
• We sometimes call him our little parrot, because he loves to repeat what everyone else is saying. He particularly loves to parrot his big sisters' lines. It can make for some hilarious situations.

We love you, Butch. Thanks for your love, sweet affection, and simple ways. You'll be Daddy's little guy forever.

Fique com Deus

Fique com Deus is the Portuguese equivalent to the English "God bless." I was reflecting the other day on the grammatical difference in these semi-equivalent phrases. It's traditional in English-speaking countries to bid farewell to a friend or stranger, asking that God bless them. "God bless." Indeed, this is a blessing, as we ask God to show his abundant graces on them. Fique com Deus is literally translated as "stay with God." In some ways I like that better because it places the onus on us and not on God. Instead of invoking God's blessings, we are exhorting the other individual to remain in God's good graces. God never leaves us or stops showering his graces on us. All too often we remove ourselves from his presence, we leave him, we distance ourselves through our words and our actions. May we all speak these words to each other: Stay with God.

We're alive and grateful

I'm Alive lyrics
Songwriters: Chesney, Kenneth A.; Dillon, Dean; Tamburino, Mark;

Featuring: Dave Matthews Band

So easy to say that life's so hard
Everybody's got their share of battle scars
As for me, I'd like to thank my lucky stars
That I'm alive and well

It'd be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing, can't you see?
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/k/kenny-chesney-lyrics/i_m-alive-lyrics.html ]
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I'm alive and well
I'm alive and well

Stars are dancin' on the water here tonight
It's good for the soul when there's not a soul in sight
This boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I'm alive and well

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing, can't you see?
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
Now I'm alive and well
Yeah, I'm alive and well