Waiting for you, Sweet One, in God's Time

Over the months, and weeks we have done many things to get ready for YOU! We have washed lots of your baby blankets, baby clothes, made Mexican tea as Mom has had contractions (this was the same tea we made when Mom was pregnant with your big sister Penelope! with avocado leaves from our backyard), painted pictures for you ;), and many more exciting moments, like saying the Rosary to you at night, talking to you and being loved by so many people, going for walks, kite-flying and walks at the QL12 lake. A few weeks ago we got to snap a few pictures... in case you wanted to come after so many contractions. :) We also have all of your presents for your big siblings wrapped--- they will love what you give them when it is time! We love you!

Happy birthday, you are loved!

You teach us so much. You give all day from beginning to end. You smile, you laugh, you make us all happy. We are grateful for you and the stability you bring to our family. God's love is within you and we thank Him for sharing you with me in marriage, and now with our family as you father each of our children daily. You are always ready and willing and going in giving. Thank you for your love. May these days be blessed as you go forward seeking God's will and ways in your life, on your journey toward Him. He loves you so much, and we are so blessed to be a part of your life.

Waiting for you, Sweet Little One

Today we saw you in your ultrasound, and what a sweet little face you have. Your tiny lips were there and your little tongue we could see too ans you licked your little lips. How blessed we are to have you, and how loved you are. We cannot wait to meet you on the outside, although every day you get lots of touches and conversations, prayers and updates on our lives with words into Mommy's tummy from everyone here. We are waiting for you. We are loving you. We thank God for you and the joy you are to our family, and, to this world. What a privilege it is to carry you beneath my heart, and how loving God is to share His life with us, in you.
"Parents full of love, loyalty, dedication and not the 'masters of their children, "but their guardians”. The personal example of communicating the faith. "Mary and Joseph’s concerns for Jesus is the same as every parent who educates a child, introducing them to life and understanding reality." Pope Benedict XVI

 

A Day That She has Waited for and Learned about for So Long

......It was Maddy's First Penance and her First Communion Day on June 16, 2013. As far back as we can remember, Maddy has been preparing her heart and soul for her day of holding Our Lord's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity within her. Maddy has always held such a deep love and sincere care for Jesus. After much preparation and waiting, and planning out the details for this beautiful day, she finally received Our Lord. And for the 5 days that followed, she received Him in our home, where Mass was said. A blooming relationship will go on as she will continue to learn more build her relationship with Jesus, and His moving great grace in her little soul.

We had planned to have a dear friend, a holy priest, who baptized Penny, hear Maddy's First Penance and give her Our Lord in her First Communion, but plans changed. We were blessed by news that another friend of ours, the associate priest at our parish in the States, was planning to visit us. He also was very happy to give Maddy her second and third sacraments. It was a dream, and Maddy counted down the days with great anticipation. She and I had made a journal, a little booklet of helps and her hand-written Commandments, as well as many other notes and journal entries as a small help in aiding her in her First Confession. She said that she wanted to have Mass and Confession early in the day because she would be too excited to wait any longer. And so, it was done. She dressed in Grandma Mimi's First Communion dress, the same that Aunty Lou, Aunt Kate, and Mommy wore for their First Communion days. Madge also wore Mommy's wedding veil and her brand new shoes, a gift from Pita (Pita wanted to buy glass slippers, but we just couldn't find them :) As the weeks and days grew closer, Pita would write notes to Maddy saying how excited she was for Maddy to make her First Communion. We prepared pans and pans of lasagne in advance, and the cake batter and icing was prepped in advance. A yummy butter-cake recipe and butter icing that we began using on Pita's 1st birthday when we made her lollipop flower cupcakes. And, some Mexican Wedding Cookies to celebrate Jesus being the Groom of our Souls through the Eucharist. Lots of traditions were woven into our preparations.
On the morning of Maddy's big day, Madge met Father in the playroom upstairs and made her First Confession. So sweet, so simple, so real. She emerged peaceful with her penance already made. Downstairs she came and there we put on the veil beneath her little blonde bun adorned with 5 colorful flowers, a mix of roses and mums, all chosen by her days before at the grocery store. The blue, she said, were for Our Lady. The guests, 40-plus friends, and the U.S. Ambassador, began to gather in the living room for 11 o'clock Mass. We began, with Fr.'s suggestion, of saying the Rosary as everyone entered. A full living room it was, and an amazing Sunday morning for us and our home.

The altar was set, and a family friend helped serve, while anotherof Maddy's friends, read the second reading in Portuguese. Maddy read the First Reading, and Mommy, Maddy, and Penny, together, helped with the Responorial Psalm, while Daddy read all of Prayers of the Faithful:

For the Pope, that God may grant him strength to serve the Church, we pray to the Lord.  - Lord, hear our prayer.

For families around the world, that they may be the domestic church God has called them to be, we pray to the Lord. - Lord, hear our prayer.

For the poor, the hungry, and the homeless, that the Lord will hold them close to His heart and comfort them in all their needs, we pray to the Lord.  - Lord, hear our prayer.

For a greater respect for God’s creation of holy marriage, the family, and the gift of human life from conception until natural death, we pray to the Lord.  - Lord, hear our prayer.

For the youth of our world, that they may herald Christ’s call to “Go out and preach to all nations” by their word, example and daily living. May they know the true dignity in which God has created them and may His reflection be mirrored in their lives by living faithfully their call to be vessels of the Holy Spirit, we pray to the Lord.  - Lord, hear our prayer.

For all mothers and fathers, grandparents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends who cannot be with us today. We lift each person in prayer and ask that God’s abiding love may satisy their hearts and strengthen each person in their daily vocation.

For an end to abortion and the culture of death, that our political leaders will work to protect the weakest in society, especially the unborn and elderly and disabled, we pray to the Lord.  - Lord, hear our prayer.

For Maddy, that she will grow everyday more and more in her love for Jesus and work to always do His will, we pray to the Lord. - Lord, hear our prayer.

In thanksgiving to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, particularly the gift of life, our individual vocations, and the great gift of the Catholic Church, Our Lord’s Bride on earth, we pray to the Lord.  - Lord, hear our prayer.

The songs that laced the Mass were beautiful and hand-picked, as Madge sang them around the house the weeks before her First Communion:  I Received the Living God, Faith of Our Fathers, Come Holy Ghost, and, Faith of Our Fathers. 

It was so beautiful and moving to see Maddy receive Jesus for the first time. She hung her brand new Rosary (handmade from Loreto Rosaries, beautiful work!) from Mommy and Daddy on her chair, which was close to the altar. After receiving Jesus, closing her eyes, and just being in His Presence. She prayed the Anima Christi with us all as she celebrated her first Thanksgiving with Our Lord. 

A beautiful day that begins the lifetime of love, real love, in body, mind and spirit, with The One Who gives Life. True Life. We were blessed and thankful for the day, and the pictures that followed were testaments to the joy that was deep in everyone's hearts!

Life. Atmosphere.Discipline.

 Education


School is much more than learned "information." It is growing virtues in one's heart while growing in knowledge about many, many things of Life. The other day, Madge was working in Phonics when she said, "Caleb, Maa-Maa can hold you." There he went to her lap, a place that he knows well: a place of comfort and reassurance.

Love

The other day I sat with our little ones at our school room table and enjoyed the "rainbow moments" of the day. I once read that it is important to take those rainbows, be grateful for them, and to give thanks, because there will be times when there are days and days that seems to have few rainbows. But, there are many, and looking into our four little treasures' eyes each day and seeings God's love look back: that is one huge rainbow. Thank you, Lord.
 

It's Official

Little Mr. Love, Our Little Caleb, received his first official haircut at the barber on June 15, 2013. Handsome and sweet are the two words that describe our little guy. He sat in a chair propped with two big cushions,  next to Daddy, who was also getting a haircut. What a memorable day, a few blocks from home, with everyone in our little family there to say, "Hip-hip hooray, Handsome Boy!"

You know what love and running are all about!

As we sat, eating our picnic lunch after a bike ride and run along the lake today, Pita noticed a man and lady that were running together. Right away, she mentioned that maybe they are married, maybe they are a  mom and dad, because, she said, "They are running at the same time, the same way!" When you love someone, you run with them, and when you run with them, you run at the same time in the same way.... you must be married! You know what love and running are all about! W love you, Peachy!