Happy Birthday, Beautiful!

This week, we celebrated with Mares her 32nd birthday. Happy Birthday, Beautiful! I can't believe another year of bliss has passed us by. It was such a fun and memorable birthday. As you also noted, this is the first time that you have celebrated a birthday while pregnant. For all the other kids, you were pregnant at the end of October, as they were all born in July. Now you will have a birthday buddy. Hopefully our little one will be coming soon! We're all so excited.

Every morning when I wake up next to you, I count myself the luckiest man alive. I love you so, so dearly. I can't imagine life without you. As easy as pro-abortion folks can dismiss a life as a fetus, I look at your life, the life of one grown up "fetus" :), and see the love, the joy, the meaning, the other lives that you have brought into the world. What a truly incredible gift life is. It is indeed incredible to have you as my wife and best friend, to have a family with you.

We thank God so much for the gift of your life. We thank him for the marvelous blessing that you are for us and for so many people around us. Here's to another year of life, of love, of striving day-in and day-out for sanctity amidst the poopy diapers, homeschooling, preparation of 20 snacks a day for the kids, the ups and downs...ordinary life as we know it and love it. We love you, Mares and Mommy. Happy Birthday!

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

Happy Big Two, Little Caleb!

 Happy birthday, sweet boy! We love you so, so much and cannot imagine life without our "Butch".:) You are one fun boy. Mommy and Daddy love to talk to you and hear your funny phrases, like the one you say now for everything, "I djoo it!" and "Ouwn-know" with a high-pitched voice when you aren't sure about something (as you can see in the picture above when Daddy asked you at 6am this morning where the "dah-dahs" (doggies) are on your birthday sign... you put out your hands and said your famous line: "Ouwn-know:)
 You sure do make us, Smile (your song.)

 Yummy German Pancakes and fresh raspberry syrup for breakfast.

Onesie given to Little Caleb from his godmama.
The day had many more highlights... more pictures to come!

LIttle Miss 6-years!

"I just want the night to pass!" said Madge last night--the eve of her sixth birthday-- as we put her to bed. She was so excited about celebrating her 6th birthday!

As we walked into a bathroom today as we were out and about for Mass and lunch with Dad, Madge, said, "Mom, this is the first time for me to go into this bathroom with this dress (a birthday present from Mimi and Papa)." :) The simplicities of life!

You have grown, Madge, but you still are our little girl, the little girl with whom we share so many, memories, from Honolulu, to Beijing, back to Honolulu (with much travel around the States pre-post delivery of you!), to Virginia, overseas, and now life in Brazil. You are a sweet soul, a real lover of Jesus and Mary and Joseph. You recently told Mommy that the more you learn of God the more you share Him with other people. We are so proud of you. It is hard to ever keep God quiet, when there is so much to say about Him! You are our little Everything, your song. Continue to be a gem for God, a strong and pure example for your siblings, who love you so much, and boy, how much you love them.

Pita's Birthday PIcs

Pita loved her birthday. It was cute how she had few to no birthday gift desires. She was very excited about her cake, however, requested to be a princess cake. Mom obliged her and the cake was magnificent.

Birthday dinner for Pita at Applebee's in Sao Paulo. The girls especially enjoyed the night out. Six Brazilian waiters at the restaurant belted out Happy Birthday in English to a half-startled/half-frightened new 4-year old, whose fear was quickly overcome by the sight of chocolate cake.

 Maddy gave Pita a Beauty and the Beast sticker book for her birthday. The sisters spent a good 2-3 hours together putting all the stickers in the book.

What's a birthday without roasting marshmallows, at least according to the Book of Guadalupe? She loves marshmallows over the campfire in the backyard!

 Birthday dinner at home pics.

 The incredible cake! Pita loved it. I think we've almost eaten it all by now. I guess it's true when they say you are what you eat, right my Princess Guadalupe!

We love you, Pita. Happy Birthday. Mom and Dad hope and pray that your fourth year of life is one filled with blessings, happiness, peace, love, learning, fun, and plenty of new things!

Happy 7 Years!

Caleb,
Seven years and four little ones later: life just continues to bloom. Thank you for helping me plant this garden in life that grows daily, has weathered the rains and snows and enjoyed some pretty amazing sunshine. God's blessings are so good and abundant. It is all about Him. Each day gets better, and the wonders of married love continue to reveal God's divine hand and creation of it all. Thank you for your love, desire to always grow and strive for more and challenging me to go higher. I love you. Thank you for our dear little treasures, whose faces were beautiful to look at today as they looked on, with popcorn in their laps, for movie time: the viewing of our wedding (one of their favorite videos!)...mine too!

Cheers to many more happy days of God's grace protecting and uplifting us as we lean on Him with Our Lady and St. Joseph beside us.
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�Each day does seem as though we've only just begun, and I am grateful for much laughter in the rain. I love you.

Thank you for your deep love.



All my love,
Mares


Remembering our wedding day:
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Our Nuptial Blessing:
May God bless you, hold and keep you. May God's mercy shine on you. Guide your work and guard your resting. Make your love forever new.
May God join your hopeful spirits. Fill your hearts with truth and courage. Trust to share both joy and tears. Teach love to your children's children. Make your household learn to witness living faith through all your years.May God bless you, hold and keep you. May God's mercy shine on you. Guide your work and guard your resting. Make your love forever new.
May God make your home a refuge where you warmly welcome strangers, and the lowly find a place. Make your caring kind and patient, help you meet the needs of neighbors. Finding Christ in every face.May God bless you, hold and keep you. May God's mercy shine on you. Guide your work and guard your resting. Make your love forever new.
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Our Wedding Song: Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor by Juanes�
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Translated in English: I Am Nothing Without Your Love
English Translation (below):
As we weather while the time passes us by, it begins to appear that in the end our hurt outweighs the years.
And so I desire to spend my years together with you, my eternal love, together with my family, together with my friends...
I am worth nothing, I have nothing, if I don't have the best: your love and companionship in my heart.
Better a year late than a decade without you. It's worth it to finally have my heart replete.
Hence I always want to be conscious of your steadfast love, be we near or far from the end.I am worth nothing, I have nothing, if I don't have the best: your love and companionship in my heart.
Come, my love...
I feel weak when I am without you, and I become strong when you are here. Without you I don't know what it's like to live. My life is a tunnel without light. I want to spend more time with you, take back the moments I have lost, and conquer the immense fear of death so as to experience eternity with you.I am worth nothing, I have nothing, if I don't have the best: your love and companionship in my heart.Hence I always want to be conscious of your steadfast love, be we near or far from the end.I am worth nothing, I have nothing, if I don't have the best: your love and companionship in my heart.
~Poetic translation by CO

Happy Fourth Birthday, Peety!

Peachy,
You are our little sweetie. What would we do without you? The list would be endless, because you have filled our lives and hearts with a lot of love, toothy grins, silly phrases, deep conversations, joy, care, sibling love, and warm affection. To this day, we remember your sweet birth and entrance into this world. As Madge says, "Pita, I've been loving you even before you were born," Yep, we loved you long in advance as we waited and hoped for God to send you. Here you are, fours years old. Sunshine. Happiness. Love. Joy. That is you, Peach. Tonight you went around the table and just told us thank you after you ate your princess birthday cake. You showed us your gratitude with a big hug and, "Thanks," in words.

Here's to you, Peachy! Your song. Mommy remembers waiting to get her hair cut and you were still inside mom. I heard this song, and thought right away: This is the song for you, little one! This is so  you, Pita. You danced around to your song today. We love you!