Marta Falling Asleep at the Dinner Table

The other night, little Marta was so tired that she fell asleep during dinner.

Happy Pentecost Sunday: Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with your peace

 

 Prayer to the Holy Spirit (by Cardinal Mercier)

"I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to all the noises of the world in order to enter into yourself. Then, in the sanctuary of your baptized soul (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him:
O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will.
If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely, and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gate of Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.
(By Cardinal Mercier, copied from http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=1404).

Sweet Marta, Happy First Baptismal Birthday!

Sweet Marta celebrated her first Baptismal birthday on May 17. And, how it was enjoyed! As we offered many prayers for Mimi as we went, while we were celebrating and afterwards with a Rosary-walk, which we usually do when we walk through Martinez, we all enjoyed a suprise visit to Suss, a neighborhood cupcake store. I loved watching our treasures enjoy every part of the experience and look at all the treats with their sweet little selves all in good-manner form as they put their hands behind their backs and just "looked" with their eyes. :) What treasures each of your souls are and how blessed by God we are to be able to share in this journey with your presence in our lives. Later we offered prayers for Godparents Nicky and Dave. Marta, you are one blessed girl with so much love.. you give it and receive it!

Your sisters love to embrace and hold you, morning, noon and night. You are a joy of sweet and yummy amazing goodness. Thank you, Lord, for our Marta Agnes Mali.

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God
(Credit for Scripture compilation into a love letter by Almighty God, taken from the website: fathersloveletter.com)

Praying with Our Lady

On Mother's Day I so enjoyed the gifts presented before me: 6 beautiful lives and one kind husband who pulled together the pieces of many parts to make the whole sweet and enjoyable. Beginning on Friday there was the surprise of a family show and relax time up on the upper (up-up :) balcony with the girls playing their violins, dancing and taking in a beautiful sky hanging over our backyard.

Celebrations went on and continued into  a beautiful Sunday morning with Mass and a delicious breakfast of omelettes and store-bought pastries, a rarity and so a sweet treat, and the unveiling of a beautiful banner of notes of love. A long walk to our favorite ice cream store, Arnaldo's, was a treat. Later in the day, Caleb made a delicious chicken salad with a "secret" ingredient as Madge said, and Arnaldo's take-home ice creams blessed our appetites at the close of dinner. The beauty of the day, as dinner was prepared, was the stringing of fresh flowers Dad had bought on Friday for our Sunday May Crowing. Everyone did a beautiful job of stringing their own and then joining them together for a prayer of Consecration to Our Lady in purity and singing Hail Holy Queen. We are blessed here, Blessed Mama. Thank you for your ever-present mantle of love and always being with us even when we have abandoned you and Your Son through our actions. You never give up on us. Thank you for being our sweet Mama.

Consecration of a Child to Mary

Holy Mary, Mother of God and Mother of all faithful, I place my little child under your mothering protection. To you I completely consecrate him - body and soul. Take him under your care and keep him always. Protect him in his infancy and keep him sound in body and mind. Guard over his youth and keep his heart pure, his thoughts ever holy and directed to God and spiritual things. Protect him always throughout life - in his joys and sorrows, in his dealings with others. Always and in all things be a true mother to him, Mary, and preserve him. I commend him entirely to you. Remember Mother Mary, that through this act of consecration he is by a special claim your child as well as mine; guard him and keep him as your property and possession. Amen.
-- From a Catholic Mother's Manual prayer book (1941) by A. Francis Coomes